Still some unfinished business
South Putnam’s Vittetow ready for UIndy career, when time comes
Kieffer Vittetow is excited to be joining the Division II University of Indianapolis track and cross country programs next year after recently signing his national letter-of-intent.
But, there are some things the South Putnam senior still wants to accomplish in high school before becoming a Greyhound.
At the top of that list is qualifying for the state finals, whether in the 1,600, the 3,200 or as a member of the 4x800 relay team.
Vittetow won the Western Indiana Conference title in the 3,200 last year, and placed third in that event in the sectional and fifth in the regional — just missing being a state qualifier.
“I’m going pretty well,” he said. “I ran 4:24 in the 1,600 in the Franklin Central Flashes Miracle Mile. Our school record is 4:20.3, and I’ve been trying to get that since I’ve started running here.
“I’d really like to qualify for the state meet.”
Vittetow said the standards are 4:20 for the 1,600 and 9:30 for the 3,200, and athletes can get additional scholarship money by hitting those marks.
“My times compare pretty well with the college times,” he said. “I’ve hit several [time] standards for Division II scholarships. I think I can fit into their lineup next year in both cross country and track.”
There was no one specific thing that caused Vittetow to make his college choice.
“I love the team, the coach and the atmosphere,” said Vittetow, who plans to major in nursing. “Everything about it is amazing.
He likes both cross country and track about evenly, even though each sport has its advantages.
“I enjoy cross country, because I like putting in the miles, but I think the competition in crowded tracks is probably more exciting,” he said. “I like them both. I think I’m getting a little stronger in speed.”
Brandon Welti has had numerous strong runners in his coaching career, and considers Vittetow among the best.
“He’s definitely one of the most committed and hard-working athletes I’ve ever had,” Welti said. “He’s disciplined, and he’s used to putting in a lot of miles. I think he’s going to do great at Indianapolis.”
Welti noted that Vittetow is a rare high school athlete who is already good at time management, a factor that will benefit him as he moves on to college.
“The change will go smoothly very well for him athletically and academically,” he said. “He is good at both cross country and track, but he has a really great focus that track requires when you run lap after lap.”
Eagle assistant coach Heath Pruitt has spent a lot of time working with Vittetow over the past six years.
“His growth, as an athlete and as an individual, has been staggering,” Pruitt said. “I trust him implicitly, and I respect his commitment to his sport and his education. Working with someone of Kieffer’s caliber allows me to take on a role closer to that of an advisor than a coach.
“He supplies the vision, the talent, and the dedication; I tailor a plan to fit; and we work together to reach the goal.”
Pruitt also considers Vittetow as a role model for the younger athletes in the program.
“Kieffer is the type of athlete and student I want our underclassmen to aspire to be, for reasons that far outweigh his natural ability,” he said. “To be good at running, especially distance running, an athlete needs a tremendous amount of self-discipline and intrinsic motivation.
“The sport requires an athlete to have the patience to see the “big picture” while simultaneously attending to minute daily details, and that’s a lifestyle that Kieffer has embraced.”
Pruitt agrees with Welti that Vittetow will thrive in the college environment.
“I believe Kieffer’s dedication, self-reliance, and resilience will transfer well from high school to the collegiate level, both in the classroom and on the track,” he said. “The skill set required to be excel as a student is almost identical to that required to excel as an athlete. I expect him to succeed in the classroom and prepare himself for his future career.”
Pruitt admits it’s difficult to predict a runner’s potential, but knows Vittetow will work as hard as possible to succeed.
“He has the ability to compete for scoring positions the first day he steps onto campus,” Pruitt said. “The University of Indianapolis is getting a great student and a great athlete in Kieffer Vittetow, and I’m glad they’ve chosen to invest in him.”