HAZELWOOD CENTRAL'S HESTER COMPLETES REDEMPTION TOUR WITH TRIO OF TITLES
Michael Hester has tasted plenty of success.
He was part of Hazelwood East's team track title in 2009. He won a second title at the Class 4 state meet last year after transferring to Hazelwood Central.
But, Hester felt he had a lot left to prove. He was unable to fully contribute to the 2010 title after injuring his knee during his premier event -- the 400-meter dash.
Hester wanted to take charge as senior and make a statement on his way out. He wanted to win a third team title and be a major factor in the scoring. Mostly, he wanted to prove that he really was an elite runner worthy of his scholarship to Kansas.
Hester did exactly that at the Missouri Class 4 state meet, and his performances at state and throughout the regular season have earned him the Post-Dispatch All-Metro boys track athlete of the year honor.
There had been talk of targeting the state's 400-meter record. Hester didn't get there, but he did run a season-best 47.70. That time knocked .27 seconds off his best effort this year and was his second fastest career time after the 47.42 he ran at sectionals as a junior.
"My goal was actually to go 46, because I went 47 here last year," Hester said of his preliminary time as a junior. "I like winning, since I always win. But when I do lose, I see my mistakes and it just makes me keep on becoming a better runner."
Hester didn't necessarily make any mistakes last year when the knee injury derailed his state meet. But he did learn a lot about himself and his desire to win. He hobbled home in the finals of the 400 in 50.14 and then jogged the finals of the 200 to contribute a point to the team's title effort.
"He has the biggest heart of anyone I know," Central coach Rich Copenhaver said. "He's huge. Like the kids say, he's a beast. He comes out and takes care of business. He's a huge part of the track team, and it's going to be hard to replace him next year. He's a great kid and always has a smile on, and he always does 110 percent on everything he does."
Hester was all smiles as he covered the final meters of his anchor leg of the 1,600-meter relay. The relay team had been pushed, but Hester and the Hawks knew all they had to do was win the event to repeat as Class 4 champions. And when Hester took over the lead, there was no one on the track who he was going to let run him down.
"I was thinking about the race, and it's my senior year," Hester said of his grin. "I had to help them out so they can have confidence for next year so they can win again."
In between his 400 and relay victories, Hester finally got to show off his stuff in the 200. He won that, too, with a 21.96. It wasn't a record time, not even a personal record, but that was not really that important to Hester.
"I wanted that so bad, too, because I could've won that last year," Hester said. "I had one of the fastest times coming in. I had to (jog it) because we were going to lose without the points.
"It's just redemption. That's all I'm trying to do this whole year -- a lot of redemption."
