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Kaeff hitting peak at right time
Clover hurdler sets WIC meet record in pursuit of return to state finals
Cloverdale senior Tyler Kaeff admitted earlier this spring that it was “his fault” he didn’t make a return trip to the Indiana High School Athletic Association track and field state finals.
He had qualified for the state meet in both the 110 high hurdles and 300 low hurdles as a sophomore, but his times fell off last year and his season ended at the Bloomington North Regional.
Kaeff has worked harder this spring and whittled away at his times — with his efforts showing up at Thursday’s Western Indiana Conference meet.
Kaeff won the 110 high hurdles in a time of 14.88, setting a meet record in the event. The previous best time was 15.14, accomplished by Edgewood’s Mason Sawyer in 2016 and Northview’s Logan Whitman in 2004.
The DePauw signee also placed second in the 300 low hurdles (1.22 seconds behind the winner) and was second in the high jump (one inch lower than the winner).
“Kaeff had a strong showing across the board,” Cloverdale coach. His 110 hurdle performance was the statement race he has been looking for. A few little adjustments and we will be ready for the tournament.”
The Clovers will compete in the Terre Haute North Sectional next Thursday, and Kaeff’s time looks favorably compared to many of the competitors.
In the recent “Big Four” track meet involving Northview, West Vigo and the two Terre Haute schools. the winning time in the 110 high hurdles was 16.41 by Terre Haute South’s Brayden Bender.
Coach Tyler’s team finished in a three-way tie for fifth place, tops among Putnam County squads.
“I am happy with our performance,” he said. “We had a shot at taking high jump and pole vault [Blake Willis was third]. Chase Ashcraft [1,600] and Andrew Monnett [300 hurdles] both had PR runs.”
In other boys WIC meet news:
• Records were falling — Wake Forest signee Ethan Roach of West Vigo set records in the 100 and 200 dashes, while Edgewood’s John McGlothlin established a new standard in the 400.
McGlothlin, just a sophomore, also ran the anchor leg of the meet record-setting 4x400 relay team.
• Cougar 4x100 relay wins — North Putnam’s 4x100 relay team consisting of Gage Bell, Scott Proctor, Brandon Barker and Chris Murray was Putnam County’s other winner on Thursday.
The Cougars’ time of 44.27 was just .71 behind the meet record held by West Vigo.
“It was great to see all four of these guys run so well last night,” North Putnam coach Joey Holt said. “This was the best we’ve looked, in my opinion, all season. It’s awesome to have them running so well at this point in the season.
“They’re peaking at the right time.”
Other notable performances were Scott Proctor finishing third overall in the 100 (11.43) and fourth overall in the long jump (20-01). Senior Caleb Duncan finished fourth overall in the 1,600 (4:47) and sixth overall in the 3200 (10:41).
Sophomore Payton Patterson finished fourth overall in discus (124-00) and Senior Dillon Binnion finished seventh overall in shot put (43-2). Freshman Colten Clifford finished sixth overall in the 400 (53.21).
• Bright spots for Cubs — Greencastle coach Craig Jordan noted several promising performances by his squad.
“It was a great day for a track meet and our boys came out and gave a solid effort,” he said. “Most notable on our team was Ben Gellman, who set a personal best in the 3200 to place fifth, and Trever Wood, who threw his second-best mark in the shot put to place fifth and put points on the board for us.”
Jordan also noted that Chris Mitchell set personal bests in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and tied his personal best in the pole vault.
“That was another positive,” Jordan said. “Leo Weeks ran a strong race and barely missed snagging a point in the 800. As a whole we have made good progress each week this season and I’m confident we will all be ready to set personal bests in the upcoming weeks.”