Bex commits to running at Indian Hills next season

A Washington senior has signed on to running track after he graduates from high school. Senior Caleb Bex signed a letter of intent to run in track at Indian Hills Community College Friday, Jan. 6.

Bex says the day means quite a bit to him. ?It?s really important and a big commitment,? he says. ?I?m excited to see what I can do there, but I have my senior track season to finish. I hope I can fulfill what I need to do here first.?

He chose Indian Hills instead of another college for the campus. ?It was the first one I visited and I really liked the campus and how it was laid out.

?For the field I?m thinking about going into, I can stay in the dorms and never really leave the building. It was a lot more affordable that other colleges as well.?

While still a senior Bex has a couple of goals. ?I want to qualify for State and hopefully for the Drake Relays as well and hit the 15 flat for high hurdles. Then that will set me up well for college hurdles so hopefully I can thrive there as well.?

In terms of stepping up his competition level, he knows what he needs to do. ?You have to do a lot of stuff on your own, not just with your team. You have to work out by yourself and do what you need to do to get better.?

At the high school level, Bex competes in the 110 meter hurdle heats, where last year he finished 15th in the preliminary race at the State meet with a time of 16.08.

He plans on continuing to run the hurdles plus do more while on the team for Indian Hills. ?I?m going to try to get into more sprints and not just hurdles, so hopefully I can pick that up, too.?

He also has great respect for Coach Steve Roth. ?He?s an amazing coach. He?s a really understanding person and has helped me out a lot, not only with track but with other things. I respect him with everything I have.?

Roth says being at the event was special. ?It?s very special. The coaching staff had instilled something about moving on to the next level. Anytime you want to do that is very cool. I?m happy for Caleb.?

Bex?s family was present for the signing. What was it like for him to have their support?

?It means a lot to me because it means that I know they will always be here for me. No matter what happens, they will have my back.?

Signing on to do track at the college level is something rare. Roth says in his 40 years of coaching, this was only the 10th time he has seen someone commit to competing in college.

?You have to be pretty special to go on to the next level. You can walk on, but you have to have a lot of dedication. You can?t just step on a track and be dedicated and conditioned.?

Roth is anxious to see how Bex will perform in the future. ?He has come a long way in the last three years. The sky is the limit. It?s a totally different thing to take part in college. He?s very good at the hurdles and moving on to the next level will be very good for him. If he stays healthy, he will have a great year.?