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Blundell, Kaeff, Matthews ready for track state
Nick Blundell and Tyler Kaeff will represent Cloverdale in running events at Saturday's Indiana High School Athletic Association boys' track state finals, and J.T. Matthews of Greencastle will compete in the high jump.
None of them is a high seed, and they all know that leaving Indiana University's Robert C. Hough Track and Field Complex with a first-place medal is not a realistic goal.
Still, that doesn't make a trip to Bloomington for the second week in a row a worthless endeavor.
Blundell, the only senior of the group, has already achieved his prize.
"My goal for the state meet is simple: run like it's the last race I'll ever run," he said, "because it is. Time-wise I would just like to break 2:00 finally. Placement-wise, I have no specific goal other than to not come in last."
Blundell's prize came in advancement to the finals after a second-place finish in the regional last month.
"Whatever place I get, and whatever time I get, as long as it's not atrocious, I will be happy," he said. "I'm already happy beyond words that I made it to the state finals, so whatever happens, I can say I have achieved my ultimate goal."
Cloverdale coach Andy Tyler cannot speak highly enough of Blundell, who will be a regular in Bloomington this fall when he starts school at Indiana.
"Nick is one of the hardest-working athletes I have ever coached," Tyler said. "He pushed himself every day in practice. He was a true leader, and he was always the first to give words of encouragement to others. He is the prototype of what you want as a leader on a team.
Tyler told Blundell before the regional that no one deserved going to state more than him in the 800, but no one in the field was going to give it to him.
"He had to seize the opportunity, and he did just that," Tyler said. "Everyone at Cloverdale is very proud of him."
While Blundell cannot shoot for a repeat trip to the finals after today, Kaeff and Matthews are hoping to use this event as a springboard to future success.
Kaeff won the 300-meter low hurdles in the regional, and his seeded time is only 2.39 seconds behind the top-seeded runner.
In a short race where there isn't much difference between seconds and hours, however, that's a huge gap.
Kaeff's goal for today is to break 40 seconds, and also eclipse the school record he set at the regionals.
"My desired time for state is around a 39.5 for the 300 hurdles, and I would be very excited if I succeed at doing that," he said. "I really want to impress myself and coach Tyler."
Kaeff said Tyler has been working with him on improving how his trail leg goes over the hurdle.
"He told me I'm letting it float over the hurdle," Kaeff said. "Now that we have worked on my leg, I think that I will re-break my school record.
"He also said that I need to come off of the hurdle 'tall', which basically means he does not want me to lean too much while I go over each hurdle."
The youngest of the three state qualifiers, Kaeff cannot wait for the competition to begin.
"Now that it has sunken in for a few days I am really excited to see how I do at state," he said.
Tyler noted that Kaeff is a "very gifted athlete" who works hard on his drills and speed work.
"His hurdle form has come a long way," Tyler said. "It's great for him to make it as a sophomore. Seeing the caliber of competition at state meet will give him a good perspective on what he needs to do if he wants to make the podium in years to come."
Kaeff gave Blundell credit for his regional victory for his inspirational cheering from the final turn, where it has become a tradition for Blundell to yell "form!" as a fundamental reminder.
"It began early in the season," Blundell said. "I noticed that when Tyler gets tired, his form starts falling apart. So I started to stand just before the straightaway and shout it at the top of my lungs so he doesn't forget the most important thing about running a race."
Blundell said he sees a surge of energy in Kaeff, and his form "greatly" improves. Kaeff now returns the favor.
"He kept asking me to stand there and shout that at him each race, as he says it helps him get great times," Blundell said. "Towards the end of the season, he started standing where I would stand, and shout the same thing.
"For both of us, we are the only person each other could hear above all the noise," he added. "And it sure does help. That reminder of keeping form sounds small, but it helps me so much when I run."
Blundell is happy for the relationships he has built with both Kaeff and coach Tyler this season.
"I am just happy I didn't cut my last season short with them," Blundell said. "I'm also extremely elated that Tyler made it to state too; he is just a monster runner and hurdler, and from seeing his work ethic in practice, I know he will accomplish great things later in life."
Blundell does not feel either runner would have progressed this far without the benefit of coach Tyler.
"We couldn't have done it without our coach though," Blundell said. "He is just a phenomenal coach, and I am so thankful I have been put in his life. I wouldn't be anywhere I am today, on and off the track, without him."
If Matthews could high jump his own height, he would be tied with five others for the fourth-best seeded mark.
The problem is that he is 6-foot-6, and his best career jump so far is 6-3 -- achieved in both the Western Indiana Conference meet and the regional.
"There are good and bad things about being tall in this event," he said. "This year I was hoping to get 6-4, and I'm going to try to get that [today]," Matthews said, noting he has reached 6-4 in practice. "My goal is to eventually get up to 6-6. That's what I'm hoping for next year."
Matthews started high jumping in sixth grade, and felt it would be a great opportunity to improve his athleticism and help him to also be more productive in football and basketball.
"I like all three sports, but I'm trying to compete in track in college," he said. "I will need to be able to jump 6-6 in order to get a scholarship in Division I or Division II. "Jumping 6-3 is good for DIvision III or NAIA," Matthews continued. "My coaches have pushed me very hard to get there."
Coach Garry Anderson is pleased with the effort of Matthews to reach this level, and thinks there is untapped potential with his multi-talented junior.
"He's in a group of a bunch of kids who jump 6-3, and he's got a mountain to climb if he wants to place or win," Anderson said. "He's done very well considering this is his first year in the state finals. We talked about it, and he's going to have to set his goal a little higher and work a little harder for next year."
Anderson noted that the school record is approximately 6-8, which is a lofty number.
"I don't know what all he can do," he said. "He's tall for a high jumper, and his muscles are compact. In high jump, if you improve an inch or an inch-and-a-half periodically that's really tough."
Matthews admitted he wasn't sure he would be a state qualifier, but he is thrilled with the opportunity.
"Realistically, I didn't think I would get here," he said. "It's definitely a blessing to get here.
"I'll be nervous, but I'm going to have to push through," Matthews added. "The amazing support from all my friends and family will get me through it."
Staying positive is the key, he says.
"A big part of it is mental," he said. "You might not get it on the first try, but. You have to stay positive on the whole journey. It should be a fun time."