Hempfield Athlete Adds To The Record Book Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about one of my grandson's friends who has just graduated with him from Hempfield High School in Landisville, Pennsylvania.  Aiden Hodge was a name I have heard many times in the past, since he and my grandson Caden played Little League Baseball together for many years.  Aiden had given up baseball a few years back in order to join the Hempfield Track and Field team.  Seems he just broke a record that was on the books for over three decades.  He had finished the 1,600-meter run in 4:10.77 at the District III track and field championships at Shippensburg State College a little over three weeks ago.  He eclipsed another Hempfield runner's, Kevin Schadt, record who had set the record which stood since 1991.  Seems the record stood for 32 years.  In high school track and field, that is remarkable to have a record last that long.  The record lasting that long told you just how good a runner Kevin was and how good a runner Aiden has become.  And...breaking the record couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.  A photograph in the Lancaster newspaper showed Aiden presenting a bouquet of flowers to Angie Schadt who was the widow of Hempfield track legend Kevin Schadt.  Angie had wanted to meet the young man who recently broke her husband's record.  Aiden became aware of the school record in the 1,600-meter his freshman year when he looked at the lobby wall outside the school's gym.  He wondered what it would be like to have his name on the wall.  Last season he finished 5th in the State meet when he hit 4:13.15.  Shaving off those 2 seconds was his pursuit this past year.  The scoreboard clock at Seth Grove High School Stadium delivered the exciting news not long ago.  He had finally done it.  Angie at first didn't want her husband's record to be broken.  Kevin Schadt had died of leukemia in 2019 at the age of 47, and when Angie found out about Aiden breaking the record, she had mixed feelings, but when she learned how nice a young man Aiden was, she was happy for him.  Hodge first met Angie at Hempfield's track after the meet when he gave Angie flowers and she gave him his favorite snack: Doritos and a Turkey Hill iced tea.  Aiden rewrote Hempfield's record book the past four years.  He owns the school mark in the 800 and 3,200 as well. I still remember him from his days of playing baseball with my grandson Caden.  I wish him the best of luck in his pursuits in college in both his academic and athletic careers.  I'll keep a lookout in the daily paper to see how he does on the track!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.