Tyrone sophomore track and field standout Caleb Whitby is just a foot and two inches away from breaking the Tyrone long jump school record set last spring by 2024 graduate Brady Ronan at 22 feet, six inches.
Whitby had a solid freshman season last year, jumping 19’0.5, third best on the team just behind 2024 graduate Andrew Weaver (20’7), and Ronan’s school record of 22’6.
At Tyrone’s first indoor track meet on December 18 in State College, Whitby took a big leap closer to Ronan’s record by jumping 21’4 and earning first place. The jump made Whitby the Tyrone indoor track record-holder.
The result was even more impressive considering that Whitby started his sophomore year slowly after tearing two ligaments in his ankle during week one of the football season. The injury sidelined him for six weeks during the football season.
“I wasn’t expecting to improve that much, especially after my injury,” said Whitby.
Coming back was a slow process with weeks of physical therapy and a pause on his progression with sports, so Whitby was excited about the indoor season and the opportunities coming up in the spring.
Whitby aims to break the long jump school record in the outdoor season.
“I think I can get close in the indoor season, but I do expect to get it in outdoor,” said Whitby
Whitby credits the off-season work and indoor track season for helping him bounce back from the injury and improve quickly.
Tyrone Head Track and Field Coach Brad Kanuch also thinks that Whitby is on pace to break the record, and he is confident that barring another injury setback, Whitby will do it this spring.
“I think that Caleb is ahead of schedule trying to break that record. If he keeps working hard and has that in his sights it could eventually be his,” Kanuch said.
Entering his fifth year as Tyrone’s head track and field coach, Kanuch has been taking Tyrone track and field to the next level by pushing his athletes to train more in the offseason by participating in indoor workouts and indoor track meets at PSU in the winter.
Last season Kanuch took a record 18 Tyrone athletes to states.
He is pleased with the turnout he has had for the indoor season and is looking forward to accomplishing even more this spring.
