Devin Hart Commits To Stanford University


Interview from the 2018 outdoor NJSIAA Meet of Champions.

Devin Hart of Pt. Pleasant Boroone of the top distance running recruits in the country, has made his college choice.

The winner is Stanford, Hart announced on Sunday afternoon.

The All-American distance runner, also visited Duke in August, knew right away that Stanford was the perfect fit for him when he visited the campus in Palo Alto last weekend. Hart said he loved the team culture at Stanford.

"I'd say that campus and facilities themselves impressed me most on the outside, but what really sealed the deal was the way the team interacted with each other, and just their overall attitude,'' said Hart. "On top of that, I trust the coaches and feel I can excel there.''   

Hart, second on Saturday in the Eastern States race at the Manhattan Invitational in 12:20.6 (No. 10 in NJ history at Van Cortlandt Park,  has built a remarkable resume during his career.

Check out Hart's stats-

Hart has won four NJSIAA Meet of Champions titles (two in the 3200m outdoors, one indoors in the 3200m and one in XC), has thrown down some of the state's fastest times ever at multiple distances, and is coming off a junior outdoor season that was one of the greatest in state history. 

The biggest highlight of Hart's 2018 outdoor campaign came last June when he completed one of the most amazing true distance doubles in state history.

At 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) on June 8, Hart ran 8:53.56 for two miles, No. 6 in state history, to place fourth at the Brooks PR Invite in Seattle, Washington. Then at 5 p.m. (Eastern time) the next day, he dropped an 8:58.58, No. 8 in meet history, to win his second straight 3200m title at the NJ M of C. Two sub 9's in 21 hours!!!! That's just plain crazy!

Hart's outdoor junior season also included a victory in the 3K at the Penn Relays, a third-place finish in the 5K at the New Balance Nationals in 14:44.06, and a 1600m PR of 4:09.49.

Hart, 10th at the Foot Locker XC Nationals last year, has some huge goals for his final high school XC season.

He wants to win Foot Locker Nationals, repeat as M of C winner, and set some course records along the way.

One of the records that Hart has his eye on is the Ocean County Park course record of 14:43 set in 2013 by Mike McClemens of Christian Brothers. Hart ran 14:51, No. 3 all-time at OCP, when he won the Ocean County title last year. Hart will be racing next at the Ocean County Chanpionships at OCP this Thursday, but he won't be pushing for the OCP record until he races at the Shore Conference Championships on Oct. 25.   

Hart, who owns a Holmdel Park PR of 15:34, is also seeking to become just the sixth boy in state history to crack 15:20 at Holmdel.