The REPORTER
Hamilton Heights senior Steven Case has signed a letter of intent to run track and cross country for Indiana University Kokomo this fall. IUK is a member of the River States Conference and a NAIA athletic institution. He is the son of Heather and Rodney Case.
After being approached by a member of IUK’s track and cross country team during his first cross country meet of the season, Case, a member of the Hamilton Heights High School Honor Society, took a closer look at IUK. It was his subsequent visit to the campus, the campus itself, smaller class sizes, location, strong computer science program, and opportunity to participate in a competitive men’s track and cross country program at the collegiate level that clinched the deal.
Case, who has been running cross country since the sixth grade, is as strong on the field as he is in the classroom, earning awards and recognitions for his performance. He was named the Most Improved runner in track and cross county 2021-22, Most Valuable runner in cross country 2022-23, named to the All-Conference Team in cross country his junior and senior years, was a cross country semi-state qualifier his senior year, placed fourth out of 227 at the New Haven Invitational in the fall, and earned the Social Studies Department Honors Award twice.
He really began to kick up his game as a sophomore when he ran an 800 in 2:19. The following year, he dropped his cross country time by 2:30, down to 17:13 and his 800 time down to 2:00.39. This year he has cut his 5K time down to 16:38 and is looking to break 1:55 in the 800. He expects to continue to improve his speed and endurance for the remainder of the season and at the college level.
“Steven is one of those quiet leaders in his sport,” Hamilton Heights High School Athletic Director Kurt Ogden said. “He gradually improved his times over the course of his high school cross country career, all due to the hard work and dedication he put into running. He has been an outstanding role model in the classroom and also in athletics. We wish him well at IU Kokomo as he continues both his cross country and track & field careers.”
“The biggest influence on my running development has been HHHS Cross Country Coach Bill Trachtman,” Case said. “He has been helping me build my confidence in the sport since the moment I started to put in effort. HHHS Cross Country Coach Bill Bowen also helped me along this journey. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve nearly as much if it weren’t for my great current and former teammates. Running with Maria Mitchell showed me that it doesn’t matter if I am from a smaller school, I could compete just as well as anyone else. Other teammates who have supported me along the way that stand out are Clay Forrer, Lawson Poland, and Evan Williamson. I can say for certain that I couldn’t have achieved what I have without their support.”