New Div. III Record
Henk Wins State Title in 3000M
By M. D. Drysdale

HERALD / ROBERT EDDY Mint Henk of Braintree trains in this 1998 photograph. A one-man Randolph track team, Henk won the 3000-meter state title Saturday and came within less than a second of winning the 1500-meter race.

Mint Henk, the sophomore sensation at Randolph Union High School, ran away with the state title, while setting a new state record in the 3000-meter race in the championship meet in St. Albans Saturday.

Just a little earlier, he had placed second—by barely seven tenths of a second—in the 1500-meter race.

Henk had hoped to win that race, and according to "stepfather/ chauffeur" Steve Zind was "very disappointed—it hurt him." He was determined not to come in second in the 3000-meter.

"I could just tell," Zind said this week. "Usually he has a hang-back strategy for most of the race, but in this instance, he broke out early and established a 7-8 second lead and maintained it. It was very exciting."

Maintaining that lead meant finishing more than 50 yards ahead of his nearest competitor, virtually alone at the tape. Henk finished in nine minutes flat, breaking the Division III record for the 3000-meter race.

Two weeks previously, at the Division III finals in Chester, Henk had performed the same feat in the 1500-meter race, setting a new Division III record. Both records had stood since 1994, having been set by the same runner, Mark Churchill.

Taking into consideration both races, Henk ran both the 1500-meter and the 3000-meter races faster than any high schooler in Vermont this year.

It’s a remarkable achievement, especially because Henk gets no coaching and has no teammates to run with. Last year, he trained a little with the U-32 team, but this week he’s met his demanding training schedule entirely on his own.

Though Randolph does not have a track team, Zind noted, Henk runs with the word "Randolph" on his shirt. Racing fans around the state are familiar with him and often call out "Go Randolph!" when he passes.

"His status as a one-man team has some appeal," Zind said with a smile.

The one-man Randolph track team moves to South Portland, Maine this weekend, where the New England regionals will be held. Henk qualified in both races but will run just the 3000.