In midst of record pursuit, Liberty’s Wolf finds future collegiate home at Indiana State

QUINCY — Cannen Wolf’s plan didn’t go exactly how either he or Liberty track coach Jared Schmidt envisioned.

Luckily, there will be other chances to chase the school record in the 1,600-meter run.

Should Wolf chase the record down, it would be the perfect catapult to an NCAA Division I track career.

The Eagles senior came within four seconds of breaking the record Wednesday, running a personal best 4:31.28 and finishing second to Quincy High School’s Fiker Rosen during the 71st Quincy Invitational at Flinn Stadium.

“I hadn’t raced in probably 10 days,” Wolf said. “I was going into that race either trying to get the record or at least get within five seconds of it where I could close out and get it in the following weeks of the season.”

With the West Central Conference championship, a distance extravaganze at Shelbyville and the Class 1A sectional and state meets still to come, the opportunity to break the mark still exists.

“We’ve got to get some of those Obert times off the record board,” Wolf said with a smile, referencing the Obert family and its legacy of distance runners. “I was looking at everything recently and the only Obert record times that exist now are the mile and 2 mile. So I’m going after them.”

It’s the drive and confidence Wolf shows in his record pursuit that made Indiana State University target him. He recently gave the Sycamores a verbal commitment.

“I just loved it,” Wolf said of the Terre Haute, Inc., campus. “It felt like home to me. It was a gut feeling as soon as I walked on the campus. Not only for the athletics because I know they have the facility there and the people to make me the best I can possibly be, but the academics and campus life as well.

“The coaching staff is fantastic and they remind me of my high school coach. They have the utmost confidence in me and they build a personal relationship. Everything about the college is just great.”

With that decision out of the way, he can focus on the record pursuit and high state finish.

“We’ve ramped up with tons of miles and beating the ground,” Wolf said. “It works with our taper very, very well. You always want to be at your best for state and give the best show you possibly can. We’ll be ready.”