Lincoln Park's Caleb Pottorff - Comeback Kid wins 2A Region 4 3200m

Sophomore Caleb Pottorff has been making a name for himself as a runner in the past few years. Caleb wasn’t always a runner though, in fact up until sixth grade football was his passion."I only ran about once a week with my mom” said Caleb, “because I thought it was fun and I enjoyed it."

Coming into sixth grade Caleb competed in his first 5k and ran an impressive 19:09.

"After that, that's when my school wanted me to come out for cross country.” Caleb said he tried it out and made the varsity high school team. Caleb improved greatly from there. In middle school he ran a 9:50 3,000m and 4:39 in the 1,500m.

As a freshman Caleb clocked 16:12 at the 2A State XC meet in 2013. During the track season Caleb ran yet another very impressive time in the 1,600m with a 4:26 and then later that season ran 9:34 in the 3,200m at the 2A State finals placing third.

Many people were anticipating how Caleb would do during his latest cross country season, but a few weeks into the season he had not still run. During the Team Prep USA summer running camp in Colorado, Caleb said he felt pain going through his leg. Caleb took it easy the next day but the pain was still very present. After that he knew he had a problem. "I went to get an x-ray and it showed I had a bone impingement on my hip.  The doctors recommended a MRI and the MRI showed a labrum tear in the hip."

Prior to surgery, Caleb received therapy for three months. After his surgery he had three more months before he could start training again. "Coming into the track season this year I was kind of scared from all of the expectations of where I was last year and what I am capable of" said Caleb.

Caleb knew that his main goal was to just run the same times he did the previous season. "When I tied my personal best in the 1,600m, my first race back, that’s when I knew I was going to have a good season." Caleb’s season continued to go well, running 9:26 at the FSU Relays in the the 3,200m, a new personal best and good for fastest time by a sophomore.

At Caleb’s district meet on April 15th he walked away with wins in the 800m and 3200m and placed second in the 1,600.

Coming into the Regional meet Caleb was very confident he could win the 3,200.

RELATED - SEE THE BOYS 2A REGION 4 BOYS 3200m RACE

His main plan was to secure him a spot in the state finals. In the race he knew he could win it and had plenty of energy left to ensure the victory.

Caleb knows that all of his hard work will pay off and at the state meet. "I go into the race knowing that I’ve put in the work and there is nothing left to do but run."

Caleb said that in the future he has a state championship on his mind, and next track season he wants to be the fastest in the state for the 3,200m. Caleb also said that he would love to qualify for Foot Locker Nationals next year.

Looking farther ahead, Caleb says he wants to run at the colligate level but hasn’t thought too far ahead because he wants the Lord Savior to point him to where he wants Him to go.

Running has greatly impacted Caleb’s life. “Running teaches you great life lessons” says Caleb. “It teaches reasonability and shows that if you want to be successful it takes a lot of hard work.” Caleb would like to thank his whole family for attending all of his races to support him, and would like to thank all the coaches who put him in the position he is in now. “A big thank you goes to my personal coach in Colorado who makes sure I don’t settle for anything less than greatness, and to my Grandpa who has been there for me since day one who just cheers me on in anything I do and continues to be my best friend.

As a runner myself I am very happy that Caleb is back running strong and wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

CALEB's Profile on DyeStat TFX