Chico State Athletics

The rain poured and the temperature plunged. "It was a miserable meet," said Ian Hackett. "Not a good time."
 
Thus, began Hackett's collegiate track and field career as a freshman at Chico State.
 
It got worse from there.
 
The remainder of his 2020 campaign was cancelled due to the Coronavirus, along with all of 2021.
 
A freshman year that started with massive goals (a 46-second time in the 400 meters and trip to the NCAA Championships) ended with a massive thud. Discouragement crept in.
 
"In the beginning of (the coronavirus) my mindset was really unfocused," admitted Hackett. "I got really stuck and lost a lot of motivation."
 
The connections that Hackett had made were mostly lost in the pandemic. The new ones he craved were hard to come by.
 
"Connections, to me, are probably the most important thing in my life," Hackett said. "The people around you have so much impact on you."
 
It was a connection that led to Hackett's discovery of his love for working out, and eventually, his apprehending that track and field was a fit.
 
Hackett's first two years of high school track and field were marred by injuries. When he hurt himself once again in his first race as a junior, he decided to make a switch. Instead of running the 100- and 200-meter sprints, he would tackle the grueling 400 meters.
 
By the end of that season, Hackett was the team's quickest in the event and threatening to break the school record. As a senior at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, Hackett broke the school record and won four races, including the Avocado East League title and CIF San Diego Section Prelims. He went on to finish fourth in the CIF San Diego Section Finals.
 
His school-record time of 48.88 came in the CIF San Diego Section Prelims.
 
"I just remember crossing the finish line and thought, wow that was a quick race," Hackett said. "I looked back at the time and thought, that can't be right. I was completely in disbelief. The official results came out and I just freaked out. It was so awesome."
 
It was a connection that led to Hackett's 200-plus volunteer hours working backstage in theater.
 
His brother, Christopher, six years his elder, invited him into it.
 
"He told me to come out and give it a try and it was a great experience," Hackett said. "I like watching the actors do their thing. Plus, it's always so much fun being behind the stage. People in theater are always loud and I'm kind of the same way."
 
He ran the spotlight for three years. Hackett is also a talented rock skipper and drummer.
 
He chose to come to Chico State "for the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level in the sport I love."
 
That opportunity hasn't exactly come to fruition just yet. But it's getting closer.
 
Thanks to another connection, Hackett has the proper motivation moving forward.
 
In January, he gained a new roommate in fellow track and field athlete Walker Doucette. Their connection helped Hackett break out of the doldrums and get reoriented.
 
"Walker inspired me to work on myself and get back into good shape," Hackett said. "Ever since then I've been running five days a week and working in the gym five days a week. It's nice to be back into that mindset of being on a team instead of just being by yourself."
 
This week, the Wildcats began a return to limited team activity that will take them through much of the remainder of the semester.
 
"My goals for the next few weeks aren't so much fitness related. I feel like I'm meeting my fitness goals already," Hackett said. "My goal this year is going to be to branch out and try to connect with as many of my teammates as I can. I'm looking forward to working out with friends and spending time with them outside of track. It's crucial to be with people who push you in the right kinds of ways. That's what I'm aiming to do—make some real friends."
 
He paused for a few seconds before continuing.
 
"But I am hoping to add some strength and speed, too, and get back into the good condition I was in last year. I was a freight train, man."
 
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