Nansemond River’s Deondre Hardy named the Gatorade Virginia Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Nansemond River senior Deondre Hardy was named the 2022 Gatorade Virginia Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
Hardy is the second male athlete from Nansemond River to receive this honor, joining Daiqwaun Faircloth in 2018.
The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.
At the Class 5 state outdoor meet, Hardy won the 110 hurdles (14.01) and triple jump (47-9½) to help the Warriors finish third overall.
He also earned All-American honors in four events at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals, including third in both the 110 and the 400 hurdles.
Hardy also volunteered locally as a youth track coach.
“Ever since his high school career began, Deondre was told by myself and other coaches that he was probably too short,” said Nansemond River coach Marco McCoy. “Comments like this fueled him. He’s been counted out by so many and has always overcome any odds. I still recall at some of our first practices I wasn’t so sure he could be a great hurdler and jumper, but after our first meet together he quickly changed my mind.”
Hardy, who maintained a 3.04 grade-point-average, will attend Coastal Carolina on a track scholarship.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com. Follow @LHRubama on Twitter.
