Sure, Caleb Seely’s track season is off to a terrific start. The Wilson senior not only holds the state’s best times in the 800 and 1,500 meters, but he is No. 6 in the 3,000 with a 22-second personal best.
But now it’s time to find out what Seely can do against top competition, starting with his first big test Friday in the elite mile in the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays.
“There are some good runners that we have yet to encounter,” Wilson distance coach Thor Esbensen said. “We’re pretty excited about the next couple weeks.”
The Idaho-bound Seely is coming off a stellar junior year in which he set school records in the 800 and 1,500. In the Class 6A meet, he placed sixth in the 800 and fourth in the 1,500.
He has shown his improved strength as a senior. He placed seventh in the state cross country meet by shaving 40 seconds off his time on the 5,000-meter course at Lane Community College, where he finished 28th as a junior. And he has run the 3,000 this season in 8:47.91, a substantial uptick from last year’s 9:09.64.
“He’s kind of established himself in all three distance races,” Esbensen said. “We’ve been anticipating doing the 800 and 1,500, but he definitely has the ability to run a 3,000, as well. The thing that we’re really excited about with him is he’s put himself in position where he really could go either way.”
Speed has been Seely’s trademark, though, and he has flashed improvement in that area this season, too. He ran the 800 in 1:54.01 on April 11, lowering his school record of 1:54.80 from last year.
His best time in the 1,500 this season is 3:57.38 – three seconds off the school record he set in the Class 6A meet last year – but the potential is there for a breakout race in the event.
“We feel like the 1,500 is probably his best event,” Esbensen said. “That seems to be a real nice balance between his speed and strength.”
Seely missed out on some fast competition Saturday at the Centennial Invitational to attend a wedding, but he will get his chance this week at the Jesuit Twilight.
The meet will be revealing for Seely, as will next week’s PIL three-way meet against a tough Franklin distance crew led by senior Henry Mong. The PIL district meet is the following week.
What will be the key for Seely?
“I’m currently working with him on developing that finishing speed,” Esbensen said. “He’s going to need it in the last 50 meters to kind of stay in position.”
-- Jerry Ulmer
julmer@oregonian.com
503-816-7323
@jerryulmer