CANTON − He was in quite a hurry.
Orrville’s Caden Race was fully getting prepared to run in the 4×400 relay, which was the last running event of the day at Thursday’s Principals Athletic Conference track and field meet at Canton South High School. Just before the starting gun went off to begin the girls 4×400 relay event, Race was signaled over to the area where the pole vault event was taking place by his coaches.
Race had already completed one jump a short time ago, then hurried over to join his teammates in the relay but was needed back to continue in his most prominent event. He then hustled over, grabbed his pole and cleared back-to-back jumps quickly with considerable ease.
So, what was his height on both vaults?
“12-6 on the first, then 13-0 on the second,” Race said afterwards.
Then he made his way back over to the field where he helped lead Orrville to a second-place finish in the 4×400 relay, with Race running the first leg. The senior made his way back over and with already the highest vault of the day at 13-0, he was told that he already had this thing wrapped up.
But the kicker was that he still had three jumps left, that is if he wanted to take them. He walked over to what appeared to be his family and he asked what height did they want to see him attempt to clear.
It sounded like a “14” came from someone but Race looked like he was done. And he was. He called it a day and with the victory, it was Race’s fourth consecutive PAC meet pole vault title in his preps career.
Said Race after knowing that he clinched victory,” No need to do it. It was after the 4×400 and my legs and hamstring were tired. I have districts next week. I already won it and got the points. Just save my legs.”
Given the packed schedule that Race had on Thursday, one could understand his reasoning.
Race ran the 100-meter dash earlier in the day, where he placed second (11.15).
Eight points for Orrville.
He later ran in the 400 meters, which he won in a time of 51.47.
10 points for Orrville.
The 4×400 boys relay runners-up finish earned the Red Riders eight points.
But before any of those three events (he competed in four on the day), there was a delay in the boys pole vault due to high-intensity winds, which was scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. About 50 minutes went by with no action, then the girls pole vault got started.
That schedule switch and later start − at about 7 p.m. for the pole vault − threw Race off a little.
“It definitely affected me a lot,” Race explained. “I felt we shouldn’t have taken that delay but it is what it is. Still got business done. I came into this meet with a mindset of trying to get number one in everything. I didn’t end up getting there in the open 100. I got second but everything else went good. I wasn’t running those races for PR (personnel best) and not for myself but doing it for the points and the team.”
And those 36 points Race accumulated (28 individually; 8 in relay event) helped Orrville reach 175 points, which was 13 points ahead of second-place Fairless, as the boys team took home the PAC team championship.
Race’s season-high in the pole vault this season so far is 13-6 but he made note that with his taxing schedule participating in multiple events in every meet, it kind of takes away from focusing on reaching a PR each time out.
“Every meet has been the same with me running in four events,” said Race, who cleared 14-1 in last year’s PAC meet pole vault win. “I’m always rushing from one place to the other. I’ve never had a meet where I can mainly focus on pole vaulting and go for my best. I usually jump for the points and the win.”
In terms of his progression as a pole vaulter since his freshman year getting to this point, Race said he’s put in the right amount of offseason work.
“Mainly a lot of training in the offseason,” said Race, who is a two-time OHSAA Division II state qualifier in the pole vault. “Finding new skills and staying active pole vaulting. I go to a pole vault club in Wooster in the offseason called the Industrial Vault Club. It really helped me repeat the same thing over and over again when I’m in the pole vault.”
When it came to knowing if completing a four-peat in the pole vault was even at stake heading into Thursday’s PAC meet, it never popped into his head.
“I guess I didn’t realize it until you said it. That’s pretty cool,” Race said. “I always had that mindset of wanting to win. So, I think that really fuels me. I definitely came in all four years thinking about being number one.”
jamessimpson@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Packed day doesn’t stop Orrville’s Caden Race, earns fourth straight PAC meet pole vault title
Reporting by James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record / The Daily Record
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