Capac’s Hank Barker (center) clears a flight of hurdles during a meet at Brown City his junior year.
CAPAC — Capac’s Hank Barker will attempt to make the Grand Valley State University men’s track team as a walk-on prospect during the 2020-21 campaign.
He entered his senior year coming off a strong junior season with the Capac boys’ track team.
In the 110-meter hurdles, Barker supplied a season-best clocking of 16.25 seconds. That paved the way to a first Friday, April 26 at The Hurd Invite in Vassar.
He also earned firsts at the Marlette Invitational, Green Devil Invitational in Brown City, Brown City Invitational and Greater Thumb Conference East League Meet in Brown City; obtained a second at a Brown City-based Division 3 regional; plus provided a 12th at the Division 3 state finals hosted by Jenison High School.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Barker supplied impressive credentials as well.
Over that distance, he managed a season-best time of 42.75 seconds for first Tuesday, May 14 at the Greater Thumb Conference East League Meet in Brown City.
He also registered firsts at the Marlette Invitational, Vassar-based Hurd Invitational; Green Devil Invitational in Brown City; plus furnished thirds at the Brown City Invitational and at a Division 3 regional in Brown City.
He also ran a leg of Capac’s 1600-meter relay which secured Tri-City Times All-Area first team accolades at season’s end. The quartet varied from time to time, with Charlie Aldrich, Daniel Griffith, Tyler Ellis and Ethan Bastian also competing for the Chiefs.
No matter what the lineup Capac sent to the starting-line, success seemed to follow.
A team consisting of Aldrich, Barker, Griffith and Ellis registered a season-best 3:36.61 clocking en route to a third Friday, May 17 at a Division 3 regional hosted by Brown City High School.
A Capac lineup of Aldrich, Barker, Bastian and Ellis pulled up first at the Vassar-based Hurd Invitational; managed thirds at the Brown City Invitational and Greater Thumb Conference East League Meet in Brown City; plus a team of Aldrich, Barker, Griffith and Ellis added a third at a Brown City-based Division 3 regional.
Barker also landed a spot on the Tri-City Times All-Area second team for his prowess as a pole vaulter.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
