Track: Rare trifecta within sight for Trojans' Barger

GAINESVILLE -- North Hall cross country and track standout Cody Barger wasn't always on top of the running heap.

"As a freshman I sucked basically," he said. "I would finish last in almost every meet. I enjoyed running but I didn't think too much about where I finished. I just kind of went out and ran. But then the summer before my sophomore year my friends started training and taking more serious and I kind of hung with them and then I started to get better."

Now a senior, Barger is hoping to pull off a rare feat in the running world: win the cross country, 1600- and 3200-meter state titles in the same season. He won the Class AAA cross country state title back in the fall and Thursday will begin his quest for the trifecta with the 1600 state final at the Georgia Games in Jefferson. He will go for the 3200 title on Friday.

Barger, as veritable runners encyclopedia, knows the names and times of every major competitor in the state, but wasn't sure if the trifecta had ever been before but would like to have his name etched among the all-time greats when he walks off the track for the last time Friday as a high school athlete.

"That's been a goal of mine this year," he said. "It would be nice to go out with all three of them but it's going to be tough. There are some runners out there who have run some better times than me."

Brendon Hoban of St. Pius and Zack Smith of Eagles Landing have both posted slightly better times in the 1600 coming into Thursday's race. Zane Cobin of Grady should also be in the mix as they round the final turn. Barger posted a 4:22 to win the Region 8-AAA title last week.

"Zack ran a 4:20 and that's the fastest time but I think it'll probably take a 4:17 to win it," Barger said. "I've been working on knocking some time off and I feel like I'll be right there at the end. I should be an awesome race. Hopefully I can find a way to win it."

In the 3200, Hoban, Smith, and Woodward Academy's Nathan Zassey should give Barger plenty of competition. Barger won the 3200 state title as a sophomore.

"That should be an awesome race as well. We are all so close in our times it's hard to say who the real favorite is. But it's going to be fun," he said.

Barger, who will attend West Point in the fall and plans to run for the Black Knights, said it has been a quick four years on the prep scene.

"It's gone by fast," he said. "It probably won't sink until after the 3200 is over. That was my first title so I'll probably be a little more emotional after that one."

No matter what happens over the next two days, did he ever expect to have a chance to hold three state titles at the same time after such a humble beginning as a freshman?

"Not really, but once I got serious I felt like I could be pretty good," he said. "We'll see how good after Friday. It should be fun and I'm looking forward to it."