O-R Athlete of the Week: Deakyn DeHoet
Name: Deakyn DeHoet
Schools: Beth-Center and Jefferson-Morgan
Class: Senior
Sports: Track and field
DeHoet’s week: The Bulldogs’ sprinter, who attends Jefferson-Morgan but competes for Beth-Center as part of a co-op because of the Rockets not having a track and field team, proved in the PIAA Championships last Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium that speed can come at any school and size in sweeping the 100- and 200-meter dashes in boys Class 2A competition.
DeHoet won the 100 in 10.51 and the 200 in 21.29, which bested the field and were personal records for the senior.
His time in the 100 made DeHoet the fastest boy in the state, as he bested the mark set by Class 3A winner Chase Guers of Blue Mountain, who crossed the finish line in 10.61.
DeHoet tied Matthew Gregory of Owen J. Roberts for the best time in the 200 after Gregory won the title in Class 3A in 21.29.
“I think people look at small schools like Jefferson-Morgan and Beth-Center and don’t really take us seriously at this level of competition, but I hope what I accomplished can change that perception,” DeHoet said. “I was surprised by the margin of victory in the 100, especially with the cold weather and all. I knew I needed to make sure I always had a nice little sweat going, even after I warmed up, because I didn’t want to get cold again.
“I had the state championship as one of my goals at the beginning of the season, but I didn’t think my time would be 10.51. It is awesome to know that I had the fastest times in the entire state in the 100 and 200.”
Despite being the only athlete participating for his school, DeHoet earned 20 team points and the Bulldogs were tied for ninth in the overall standings in boys Class 2A.
DeHoet’s week started on the baseball diamond, as he started in left field for the Rockets in a 4-1 setback to Greensburg Central Catholic in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class A playoffs on May 18 at Washington & Jefferson’s Ross Memorial Park.
Next level: DeHoet has committed to PennWest California to continue his academic and football careers, but he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of being a member of the Vulcans’ track and field team.
As DeHoet won WPIAL and PIAA gold in the 100 and 200, he had more eyes watching him than just coaches, competitors and spectators.
“The track & field coaches at California had been coming to the meets,” DeHoet said. “We are going to see what happens, but I may compete in track & field at California. I never really thought about it when I was growing up because the opportunities weren’t there with my school not having a track and field program.”
One more to go: DeHoet still has one more track and field event to compete in, as he will take on the best in the country in the New Balance Nationals from June 18-21 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
DeHoet is aware of the quality of competition he will see at the historic venue, but he will use the experience as a gauge to see where he belongs among the nation’s top sprinters.
“It is going to be tough and a humbling experience going against the top sprinters in the country, but it will motivate me to work harder in really anything I do,” DeHoet said. “I am going to work toward that event to make sure I am ready. I have shown what I can do at this level, and now I have to go out and see how far I can go at the next level.”
Compiled by Jonathan Guth