Lakewood boys track’s Henry, Navy a perfect match

• Major Henry will be carrying a family legacy when he attends the United States Naval Academy.
• Henry wants to qualify for the Division II regional meet in the 110 hurdles and high jump.

HEBRON – Major Henry’s leadership and dedication always have been apparent during his time at Lakewood High School.

Henry has long thought those attributes made him a perfect candidate for a service academy, and apparently the brass at the United States Naval Academy thought so, too. The Lakewood senior, recently signed his letter of intent to compete in track and field next season.

Henry also will be carrying a family legacy of military service. His interest piqued while he was in middle school, and he made two trips to Annapolis, Md., this past summer.

“It was called Summer Seminar, and you kind of live a week in the life there,” Henry said. “It was a really great experience. Then, I went to a track and field camp two weeks later there. It was a little scary, but it was something I wanted to do.”

Henry’s great-grandfather was a Silver Star recipient during World War II, and both of his grandfathers also served. Henry has been one of the Lancers’ best in cross country, football and track during the past four years.

Andrew Gulick and Henry became friends in eighth grade, and Gulick has admired what Henry has been able to accomplish. Henry and Gulick have competed together in cross country and track, and Henry is in the running to join Gulick on the 4x400 relay, which is looking to reset the school record the Lancers broke a season ago.

“Major was one of the my quickest friends, and his maturity really helped me grow as a person, too,” Gulick said. “As far as competing with him, but also sometimes against him while on the same team, it has helped push me a lot more to do my best. Even though he is my friend, you still have to race with him.”

The athleticism that allowed Henry to average about 13 points per game and earn Licking County League honors for the basketball team has the Navy coaches intrigued. With an opportunity to put his full attention on track, Henry could experience a major breakthrough at the next level.

“I haven’t really had the chance to focus on one sport, so I am really excited for that,” Henry said. “I feel like if I put as much time into just track as I do the other sports, the sky’s the limit for me.”

Henry just missed a regional-qualifying spot in both the 110 hurdles and high jump in 2014, placing fifth in the Division II district meet in both. If he can break under the 16-second mark in the hurdles and reach the 6-feet-4 mark, which has been oh so close, he has a great chance to advance later in the month.

“My times are right along with the college times, so I am hoping to pursue that,” he said, of the hurdles.

Henry would like to major in oceanography. He could not have picked a better floating classroom.

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @newarkurt