Arman "Gino" Hall exploded onto the national track scene this spring after adding 10 pounds of muscle and dropping football so he could concentrate on track.
Arman "Gino" Hall added bulk andlowered his times in the 400.
Photo courtesy of Shannon Arczynski
The
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) junior currently leads the nation with an outstanding time of 46.22 seconds in the 400-meter dash. He also led the nation with a 20.82 clocking in the 200 until Remontay McClain (Covina, Calif.) was timed in 20.68 last weekend.
Showing his versatility, the slender 6-foot, 160-pounder also has run the 100 in 10.64 and long jumped 22 feet, 2 ½ inches.
"I gained 10 pounds of muscle in two months. I didn't eat as much beef as I used to and had more carbs and protein. I lifted (weights) three times a week," Hall said. "I dropped football, because I felt this was going to be my breakout year (in track) and I wanted to show how good I could get. I really didn't have a career in football, because I didn't have the body for it. In track I had speed."
Hall was a wide receiver on the freshman football team as a ninth grader and on the JV team as a sophomore. This year would have been his first shot at the varsity team, which annually is ranked among the nation's elite.
Due to his vast improvement this spring, the Raiders' star often now is addressed as "Arman," probably out of respect for his new status. Close friends still call him Gino (based on his middle name, Giovanni), but he admits it feels strange to hear so many people refer to him by his formal name.
Along with his new-found respect comes added stature in the form of a nickname. Students and teammates now chant "Mean Machine" whenever he enters a race.
Hall explained that the name comes from his persistence.
"I'm just not human or normal. I never run out of energy. I never die out."
However, this Mean Machine comes from humble beginnings and until this year was frustrated by a string of second-place finishes in big races.
His coach, Alex Armenteros, has followed his career since he was about 9 years old. Armenteros recalled, "He wasn't the best. He always was third or fourth, but he showed a lot of potential. He was always tall, but really skinny. The last four years he was second in the AAU Junior Olympics in the open 400 and 200.
"It was definitely frustrating and one of the things that built character. He didn't break, but it just motivated him. After every race he was furious and ready to work."
Hall had hoped that hard work would pay off as a freshman at St. Thomas Aquinas.
"It was kind of emotional for me," he said. "I was trying to prove myself to everybody, but wasn't getting it done. I was disappointed in myself. I wanted to place in the top three at least (he was fifth in the Class 3A 400 race at the state meet)."
As a sophomore he improved enough to place second in the Class 4A state 400 to standout junior Hugh Graham of Northwestern (Miami). The margin was less than one-half of a second, 46.98 to 47.43.
"That was where I really started becoming known," Hall said proudly. Still, Graham was the rival he couldn't beat.
Growing and getting stronger, Hall finally cracked the national elite as a junior when he won the 400 in 47.45 at the first annual Brooks Invitational in Seattle. It stood up as the top indoor time for the nation.
"Starting off the year was perfect," Hall said. "It felt pretty good. I didn't think I could run that fast indoors. I really surprised myself, how fast I had gotten. I drive myself to be the best I can be."
His dominance continued outdoors when he ran his personal-record 20.82 to win the 200 during the Sam Burley Invitational at Miami Southridge.
"I really got pushed by Hugh Graham (who pulled a groin muscle after the first curve and finished third)," he noted. "He had beaten me every time in two years."
Then he faced Graham for the first time this year in the 400 during the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. Another formidable runner, Dedric Dukes of Booker T. Washington (Miami), also was in the race. The St. Thomas Aquinas speedster nipped Dukes in a photo finish. His outstanding 46.61 effort was No. 1 in the nation at that time. Graham was third in 46.69. In the 200, Hall again nipped Dukes, 20.87 to 20.88.
Hall was among the leading candidates to earn Bob Hayes MVP honors, but it was believed his team first would have to win the 1,600 relay. Unfortunately, the Raiders were so far behind when Hall got the baton on the anchor leg that they had no chance. Miami Northwestern won the race and its champion hurdler, Artie Burns, was named MVP.
Armenteros recalled the other three runners promising Hall, "We're going to make this up to you."
The Class 4A state finals served as the payback vehicle.
First of all, Hall captured his specialty, the 400, for the first time in 46.22. That enabled him to reclaim the national lead, which he had lost earlier in the season to Graham's 46.44. Unfortunately, he tweaked a tendon in his right leg and was not able to run in the 200 finals. That also knocked him out of his anchor relay spot.
Miraculously, his teammates won the 1,600 relay without him, giving the Raiders their fourth consecutive team title as well.
"They won without me," Hall said happily. "They came out with their hearts and their will to win it."
Armenteros emphasized, "Gino's leadership basically inspired them. He's a real unselfish kid – straight business."
Hall has big meets lined up this summer in such places as Puerto Rico, Greensboro, N.C., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and, hopefully, the World Youth Games in France.
Next year his goal is to break Florida state records in the 400 (45.44) and the 200 (20.58). He also would love to shatter the world record in the 400, which is 43.18 by four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson.
"I really wanted to be like Michael Johnson," Hall confided. "I want to beat his record in the 400 some day. He's the reason I do the 4 and the 2. I'm just thankful for the ability that God has given me."
He also has high hopes of making the 2012 Olympics, studying to become an athletic trainer in college and running professional track.
And before his interview with MaxPreps ended, Hall dropped a bomb.
Encouraged by his added strength and confidence, he revealed, "I'm going to play football as a senior. As soon as track is over (this summer), I'm going to start working out for football. I just want to have fun my senior year."
