(contributions by David Butler of The Hartwell Sun)
Hart County senior cross country runner Audrey Honiotes signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to run cross country at Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
"(The process) was so stressful, but so much fun. I met so many people and it was almost a way to find out who I truly was and who I wanted to become," Audrey said Wednesday. "It really tested myself and my personality. I had to decide who I was going to become over the next four years and how I was going to achieve those dreams that I still have." Matthew Honiotes said the process has been exciting, long, and a difficult choice. "She has had so many different opportunities to narrowing it down to three really great schools. Ultimately it came down to what was best for Audrey and what was going to make her happy," Matthew Honiotes said Wednesday. "I want her to reach her full potential. She has athletic ability and scholastic ability, but what she has most of all is heart. That will you take you so far. I'm so excited to see what Audrey can accomplish."
Honiotes chose the Bulldogs because she said there was an instant connection with head coach Houston Franks. "I had to look at where I was going to be the happiest and where was I going to see myself succeeding the most," Honiotes said. "He told me I could be one of their top runners and I would be able to come in and contribute to the team." Honiotes will join a Mississippi State team that finished No. 29 in the country and finished fourth in the SEC (South Eastern Conference) Championships. "I definitely want to get on the podium. I want to be SEC Top 20," Honiotes said. "The team is already amazing and (I want to) be able to contribute to the team and hope to even get to Nationals again and maybe even be a qualifier for Top 20 Nationals.
Honiotes has helped lead Hart County to three consecutive Top-Five finishes at the State Championships and three straight Region 8-AAA championships. She took home the individual region title in 2013 (18:52) and 2014 (18:50) and finished second overall in 2015 (18:30:55) and 2016 (18:35.26). "It is very exciting. I'm so very proud for and it's a very exciting time for her and for our team," said head cross country coach Cecil Marett. "I hope that she can fulfill every one of her dreams. It's going to be exciting to see how far she can go."
Honiotes chose the Bulldogs because she said there was an instant connection with head coach Houston Franks. "I had to look at where I was going to be the happiest and where was I going to see myself succeeding the most," Honiotes said. "He told me I could be one of their top runners and I would be able to come in and contribute to the team." Honiotes will join a Mississippi State team that finished No. 29 in the country and finished fourth in the SEC (South Eastern Conference) Championships. "I definitely want to get on the podium. I want to be SEC Top 20," Honiotes said. "The team is already amazing and (I want to) be able to contribute to the team and hope to even get to Nationals again and maybe even be a qualifier for Top 20 Nationals.
Honiotes has helped lead Hart County to three consecutive Top-Five finishes at the State Championships and three straight Region 8-AAA championships. She took home the individual region title in 2013 (18:52) and 2014 (18:50) and finished second overall in 2015 (18:30:55) and 2016 (18:35.26). "It is very exciting. I'm so very proud for and it's a very exciting time for her and for our team," said head cross country coach Cecil Marett. "I hope that she can fulfill every one of her dreams. It's going to be exciting to see how far she can go."
Major Victories
Season Bests
| 1600M | |
|---|---|
| OUTDOOR | Graph |
| 2016 | 5:08.88 |
| 2015 | 5:11.72 |
| 2014 | 5:14.23 |
| 2013 | 5:38.41 |
| 1 MILE | |
| OUTDOOR | Graph |
| 2014 | 5:25.57 |
| 3000M | |
| XC | Graph |
| 2012 | 11:38.00 |
| 2011 | 12:26.89 |
| 2010 | 13:32.37 |
| 3200M | |
| OUTDOOR | Graph |
| 2016 | 10:57.55 |
| 2015 | 11:12.81 |
| 2014 | 11:14.31 |
| 2013 | 11:56.52 |
| XC | Graph |
| 2012 | 12:22.00 |
| 2 MILE | |
| OUTDOOR | Graph |
| 2016 | 11:23.78 |
| 2014 | 11:41.37 |
| INDOOR | Graph |
| 2016 | 11:21.85 |
| XC | Graph |
| 2012 | 12:50.32 |
| 2011 | 13:07.80 |
| 5K | |
| XC | Graph |
| 2016 | 17:57.34 |
| 2015 | 18:06.49 |
| 2014 | 18:14.00 |
| 2013 | 18:38.00 |
