Andrew Hart (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Hart, also referred to as Andy Hart (born 13 September 1969) is a retired English
middle distance
runner who specialized in the 800 metres
. His personal best time was 1:45.71 minutes, achieved when he placed fifth at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
, his most prestigious championship achievement. He also competed at the Olympic Games once, in 2000
.
event at the British Universities Championships in 1994, although in a modest time of 3:50.79 minutes.
He later concentrated on the 800 metres
. His first major international competition came in the 1996–97 indoor season, when he competed at the World Indoor Championships
. He did reach the semi-final, but lost his heat and failed to reach the final. Later that year he competed at the 1997 World Championships
. Here, he was knocked out in the quarter-final. He also won the UK Championships in 1997, running in 1:46.36 minutes.
In 1998 Hart recorded his career best performances. First, he finished third at the European Cup
event, which the British team won. In September he finished sixth at the IAAF World Cup. A week later he entered the 1998 Commonwealth Games
, and finished fifth. With a time of 1:45.71 minutes, he was the fastest non-African in the race, only beaten by Japheth Kimutai
, Hezekiél Sepeng
, Johan Botha
and Savieri Ngidhi
. Hart beat compatriot Bradley Donkin, who finished sixth, with a second. With this, Hart and Donkin topped the British season's list. 1:45.71 minutes was also Hart's lifetime best performance.
In the next two seasons he competed at the 1999 World Indoor Championships
and the 2000 Olympic Games
. In both competitions he failed to progress past the first round. He did become the Amateur Athletics Association indoor champion in 1999, and was the runner-up at the 2000 AAA Championships.
teacher by occupation. He taught at Cirencester Kingshill School
in England from mid-1998 to July 2006 before moving to teach in Australia the following month. He and his wife have two sons, born in July 2006 and November 2009.
Currently, Hart is a physical education teacher at McKinnon Secondary College
in Melbourne.He coached middle distance at caufield grammar and later scotch college, before returning to England in 2010 to be with his family. He was educated at Campion High School Royal Leamington Spa England. Hart is secretly training to try to beat the veterans' world record for 800 m at 1.51; he is currently way down at 1.59.
He is now working at the Crypt School in the Physical Education Department
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
middle distance
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
runner who specialized in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. His personal best time was 1:45.71 minutes, achieved when he placed fifth at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from the 16–21 September 1998.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:Key:-References:**...
, his most prestigious championship achievement. He also competed at the Olympic Games once, in 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
Career
Hart was somewhat of a late bloomer, not recording noteworthy results until in his late twenties. One of his first achievements was the victory in the 1500 metres1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
event at the British Universities Championships in 1994, although in a modest time of 3:50.79 minutes.
He later concentrated on the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. His first major international competition came in the 1996–97 indoor season, when he competed at the World Indoor Championships
1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 6th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France from March 7 to March 9, 1997. It was the first athletic championships to introduce women's pole vault...
. He did reach the semi-final, but lost his heat and failed to reach the final. Later that year he competed at the 1997 World Championships
1997 World Championships in Athletics
The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations...
. Here, he was knocked out in the quarter-final. He also won the UK Championships in 1997, running in 1:46.36 minutes.
In 1998 Hart recorded his career best performances. First, he finished third at the European Cup
European Cup (athletics)
The European Cup is a now defunct athletics competition, replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009 onwards. The Europa Cup saw most of the major nations of Europe compete. Originally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup, it first took place in Stuttgart and Kassel , Germany in 1965...
event, which the British team won. In September he finished sixth at the IAAF World Cup. A week later he entered the 1998 Commonwealth Games
Athletics at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the athletics events were held at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from the 16–21 September 1998.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:Key:-References:**...
, and finished fifth. With a time of 1:45.71 minutes, he was the fastest non-African in the race, only beaten by Japheth Kimutai
Japheth Kimutai
Japheth Kimutai is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specialized in 800 metres.In 1998 he won the gold medal at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in a time of 1:43.82. In the same year he won the African Championships 800 metres in Dakar, Senegal...
, Hezekiél Sepeng
Hezekiél Sepeng
Hezekiél Sello Sepeng , is a South African middle distance runner who came second in the Olympic 800 metres final in Atlanta 1996 , the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the World Championships' final in Seville 1999...
, Johan Botha
Johan Botha (athlete)
Johan Botha is a South African middle distance runner who won the gold medal over 800 metres at the World Indoor Championships in Athletics in Maebashi in 1999. In the course of the race he defeated world record holder Wilson Kipketer and Nico Motchebon in a winning time of 1:45.47...
and Savieri Ngidhi
Savieri Ngidhi
- Achievements :*1999 African Southern Region Championships - gold medal *1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships - sixth place *1995 All-Africa Games - bronze medal...
. Hart beat compatriot Bradley Donkin, who finished sixth, with a second. With this, Hart and Donkin topped the British season's list. 1:45.71 minutes was also Hart's lifetime best performance.
In the next two seasons he competed at the 1999 World Indoor Championships
1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 7th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the Green Dome Maebashi stadium in Maebashi, Japan from March 5 to March 7, 1999. It was the first time the Championships were staged outside Europe or North America. Primo Nebiolo, president of the IAAF, characterized the...
and the 2000 Olympic Games
Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The Men's 800 metres event at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics programme was held at Stadium Australia on Saturday 23 September, Monday 25 September, and Wednesday 27 September 2000....
. In both competitions he failed to progress past the first round. He did become the Amateur Athletics Association indoor champion in 1999, and was the runner-up at the 2000 AAA Championships.
Personal life
Hart is a physical educationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher by occupation. He taught at Cirencester Kingshill School
Cirencester Kingshill School
Cirencester Kingshill School is a Comprehensive school located on the south east side of Cirencester, Gloucestershire in England. Opened in 1976, it is one of two secondary schools serving Cirencester and the surrounding area....
in England from mid-1998 to July 2006 before moving to teach in Australia the following month. He and his wife have two sons, born in July 2006 and November 2009.
Currently, Hart is a physical education teacher at McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Secondary College is a Public secondary school located in the Melbourne suburb of McKinnon. The school was ranked 37th in Victoria in terms of VCE median study score in 2009. McKinnon is also known for its large music faculty.-Entry:...
in Melbourne.He coached middle distance at caufield grammar and later scotch college, before returning to England in 2010 to be with his family. He was educated at Campion High School Royal Leamington Spa England. Hart is secretly training to try to beat the veterans' world record for 800 m at 1.51; he is currently way down at 1.59.
He is now working at the Crypt School in the Physical Education Department