Eureka senior Peyton Hare will continue his track and field career at the collegiate level after signing with the Allen Community College Red Devils.
Hare said competing in college athletics has been a longtime goal, though his path eventually shifted from football to track.
“I’ve known most of my life that I wanted to play at the next level,” Hare said. “Initially I thought it would be football, but the last couple of years I started excelling in track so I began pursuing that route instead.”
A standout sprinter for the Tornadoes, Hare has built an impressive resume during his high school career and currently holds school records in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. He is also part of the 4x100-meter relay team that tied the school record last season.
Hare said one of the biggest reasons he enjoys track is the personal challenge each competition brings.
“I love the individual aspect of track,” he said. “It’s me versus me every meet.”
He plans to continue focusing on the sprint events at Allen, particularly the 200 and 400 meters.
“I’m a sprinter and hope to continue developing and improving in the 200 and 400,” Hare said.
Last season, Hare qualified for the state track meet in the 200, 400 and 4x100 relay. He earned a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters and was state runner-up in both the 400 and the 4x100 relay.
In addition to athletics, Hare plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy with the goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Hare is the son of Toni Bitler and John Riggs of Severy and Jason Hare of Eureka.
His grandparents are Dan and Carol Bitler of Eureka, Tom and Sheryl Hare of Toronto, and Gary and Jan Macy of Independence.
Hare is pictured at left seated center with his parents T. Bitler and Riggs, brother Zach Hare and neice Aspen Hare. Future coaches Greg Franklin and Tard Smith Jr. and EHS coaches Brendan Ptacek and Jonah McKee are standing in the back row.
