Sean Hunt Interview

Sean Hunt, a product of Gilmer County High School, was one of the top distance runners in West Virginia during his high school career. He was the state cross country champion during his final two years at GCHS. Now he coaches cross country and track at Gilmer County.

I am glad to have this opportunity to share his contribution to West Virginia distance running.

Coach McMillion - What’s your full name?

SH - Randall Sean Hunt

When and where were you born?

SH – I was born on March 2, 1973 in Glenville, West Virginia.

CM - Where did you grow up?

SH – I grew up in Gilmer County, West Virginia.

CM - Who is your parents?

SH – Randy Hunt and Stephanie Montgomery

CM - Do you have any brothers or sisters?

SH – I have two sisters, Kasey Hunt Procter and Tanner Hunt Randles.

CM - What sports did you participate in as a youngster?

SH – I participated in Football, Basketball, and Baseball.

CM - What junior high/middle school did you attend?

SH – I attended Glenville Elementary K thru 8.

CM - When or how did you first start running?

SH - My Dad coached football at Glenville State College and every season they would run 1.5 miles to see who was in shape, and my Dad let me run. I then began running a few days a week with my Dad, which led me to AAU, and TAC. We didn't have track or cross country until High School.

CM - When did you first start to have success at running?

SH - In The Athletics Congress (TAC), where I ran the 3000m.

CM - Where and when did you attend high school?

SH – I attended Gilmer County High School from 1987-1991.

CM - Who was your high school coaches?

SH - Janet James, Jesse Skiles, Williard Wright, and my Dad.

CM - Which sport did you like more – cross country or track?

SH - CROSS COUNTRY!!!

CM - What was your favorite workout?

SH - Straight 5-miles on the road, while running negative splits. Hills and surges also were great workouts for me.

CM - About how many miles a week did you run?

SH – I typically ran 35 to 40 miles per a week.

CM - You are a two-time West Virginia High School boy’s individual state cross-country champion. Can you tell us what years you won the title and a little about each race?

SH – In 1989, I won at Camp Virgil Tate, but I didn't take over the lead and keep it until we hit the hill. In 1990, I won at D&E, which was the first time the State Championship was held there. That course is all about guts, and heart for me. I went out and separated again on the large hill.

CM - How was the state meet awarded when you won your titles?

SH - Both of those years it was All-Classes combined for Individual and Team honors. One race, with one winner. Gilmer HS had a class ‘A’ classification, but like I said all-classes where combined. I won my junior year, while Chris Petsko from Morgantown HS (AAA) was the runner-up. During my senior season, I took first, and Jeff Roby from Huntington was the runner-up.

CM - It wasn’t until your senior year of high school that you captured the 3200-meter run title. What was that like?

SH - Next to my first cross country title it was my proudest moment, because I could never really get it done on the track like I could on the courses. I didn't have much of a kick, so I had gotten used to getting passed in the final 200-meters. But in this particular race, I went out hard and surged twice on the back stretch. When it was time for the kick, no one was there.

CM - In high school, what is the race that you’re most proud of?

SH - The 1991 State 3200-meter run, it just really felt good to get that monkey off my back.

CM - Who was your toughest competitors in high school in cross country and track?

SH - My junior year of cross country was Chris Petsko, because we raced each other sometimes twice a week, because Morgantown was in my Region. It was crazy to have class ‘A’ Gilmer County in the same Region as class ‘AAA’ Morgantown and Fairmont Senior.

In Track, every Ball! I had to race the three brothers all four years of high school. David Ball kicked my butt the worst, that was during my freshman and sophomore years. Then Steve Ball my junior year, while finishing with Tony Ball my senior year. I was very fortunate to only have raced Mikey Cox his sophomore year, because I wouldn't have beaten him later in his career.

CM - Did you run Kinney or Foot Locker? If so, can you list your races?

SH – I ran horrible at both Foot Locker South Regional qualifiers at McAlpine Greenway Park in Charlotte, NC. The first mile would drain me, and there were no real hills to make up space.

CM - Who would you credit your success too?

SH - My parents, and Coaches, but my Dad was the driving force. He ran 5-miles with me every morning before school, because I played many other sports. He took me to a road race every weekend during my sophomore and Junior summers. He never missed one race or meet until I went away to College. When I qualified for TAC Cross Country National's he traveled with me to Omaha Nebraska, where I finished 9th.

CM - What was your high school personal records?

SH - Honestly don't know for sure. I only broke 16-minutes twice in cross country.

In track, I believe I ran 9:41 at the State meet for the 3200m and 4:28 for the 1600m. I ran 15:48 in a 5K road race, and 33:04 in the Parkersburg Road run where I finished 4th (Steve Taylor, and Mark Stickley took 1,2).

CM - Where did you go to college? Did you get a scholarship?

SH - I received a Scholarship to Kent State University.

CM - Did you compete in college?

SH - I ran #4 spot on KSU’s cross country team while as a Freshman. I started and raced some indoor meets, before I was dismissed from the program. Being a Coach now, I'm amazed I wasn't dismissed sooner. I not only was ruining my career, but not helping the team either in my downward spiral.

CM - Who was your coach there?

SH - Coach Rod O'Donnell, and I'm so glad we have reconnected through this sport we both love.

CM - Do you coach? If so, at which school, what sports, and what genders?

SH – I coach the boys and girls high school track teams and the boys and girls middle school and high school cross country teams at Gilmer County.

CM - What do you do now?

SH – I have worked the last several years in the Recovery from Substance abuse field, mainly with Veterans, but I just recently relocated back to Glenville where I work for the Board of Education.

CM - Do you have any kids? What’s their names in order they were born?

SH - I have one son, Dakota Ray Hunt, who is seventeen years old. He lives with his Mother in Martinsburg, WV. We still are a close family to this day.

CM - Finally, is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself?

SH - After I left Kent State. I joined the Military. I was active duty in the ARMY for five years. My first two and a half years, I was in the Honor Guard at Ft. Myer Arlington (VA), where I worked mainly at the Arlington National Cemetery.

CM - Thanks for your time Sean. Good luck to you and your cross-country teams!

Submitted by Coach McMillion (09/20/17)