Hasvold named DyeStatCal state boys athlete of week

Fallbrook High School senior and cross-country runner Bret Hasvold was named the state boys athlete of the week by DyeStatCal.com for the week of September 17-22.

“Bret has worked his way up to very, very special status statewide in the sport,” said DyeStatCal.com editor Doug Speck.

Each week DyeStatCal.com picks a boys and girls state athlete of the week. “We’re trying to have each week an outstanding athlete from around the state,” Speck said.

The selections are for an athlete with consistently outstanding performances or one who provided an elite level of performance. Although DyeStatCal.com also recognizes track and field athletes as well as cross-country runners, approximately one dozen boys and one dozen girls receive cross-country honors each year.

“That’s really special because that’s all of California,” said Fallbrook coach Marco Arias. “We’re all very happy for him.”

Hasvold, who placed third in last year’s CIF Division I meet, finished first in the Laguna Hills Invitational September 8. He placed third at the Woodbridge Invitational September 15 with a time of 14:27 on the 3.0-mile course which was the 14th-fastest time by any runner in that meet’s history.

On September 22 Hasvold competed in the Dana Hills Invitational and had a time of 14:52 on the 3.0-mile course to lead the 1,434 runners and win the overall title for the second consecutive year. Rain during the Dana Hills Invitational created times slower than the ones run at the Woodbridge Invitational a week earlier.

“It appears to be a good example of hard work in the sport,” Speck said of Hasvold’s improvement. “It’s kind of blossomed his senior year.”

Arias also cited Hasvold’s level of effort. “The work he puts in…pays off,” Arias said.

Arias noted that Hasvold confers with his coaches on both team and individual goals. “He works towards those goals, so we couldn’t be happier that this honor was bestowed upon him,” Arias said. “It’s truly a joy to watch him and to be around him. As much as everybody focuses him for being a tremendous athlete, he’s even a better person.”