Cedarville steamrolls the record book at Grand Valley

By Matt Schaeckenbach

Storming down the home stretch, junior superstar and school record holder Caleb Sultan closed the final meters of his 800-meter race, crossing the finish line in 3rd place. But the place didn’t matter; it was all about the time. Pointing to the sky, he staggered into the arms of his teammates, exhausted, excited and beyond grateful for another record-breaking performance.

“CU track on top,” Sultan said, reflecting on the Yellow Jackets’ meet at Grand Valley State University. 

Sultan was a key piece to Cedarville’s dominant showing at Friday’s meet. He joined his teammates in breaking three more school records on the day at the GVSU Big Meet, which consistently brings out some of the best competition across all divisions of track and field. 

Today was no exception, as top marks in the country were posted all day by athletes from different schools—including Cedarville. 

Sultan showed that he’s got more guts than almost anyone on the track in his race. 

Running the 800, widely considered the most grueling race in track and field, he showed up in the first heat of an elite field. Right from the gun, Sultan got out hard, positioning himself comfortably towards the front of the pack, waiting to strike. 

They coasted through 400 meters in 52 seconds, a blazing opening time for this event, and that’s when Sultan began to make his move, positioning himself on the outside shoulder of UW-Parkside’s Doug Martin. With 300 to go, Sultan put in a surge, swinging around Martin to take the lead and open up his powerful stride. 

“I was more confident than I’ve ever been in my training and capability,” Sultan said. “I believed every step of the way.”

The move was a risky one, but Sultan’s gamble paid off as he charged to the finish line. Fading in the final meters, Sultan gave way to Martin and Eastern Michigan’s Kian Wiles, but still posted the best mark in school history–whether indoor or outdoor–with a time of 1:49.47. 

The time currently ranks him 9th in Division II for the upcoming national meet at Virginia Beach this March.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Sultan said. “I didn’t run scare,d and I achieved something I’ve been working for since high school. All glory to God.”

Joining Sultan in record-breaking performances was the men’s 4×400-meter dash. The relay has quickly become one of Cedarville’s best events and was ranked 4th nationally during the 2025 indoor season. This year, the squad returns three of its runners–Brandon Rogers, Michael Braxton, and Jeremy Johnson. 

Joining this threesome is up-and-coming star David Gerdin. The sophomore is already having a breakout season as both an integral part of the 4×4 and in the individual event. 

Lining up against some of the best competition in the country, including powerhouse Grand Valley State, the Jackets didn’t falter one bit as the gun went off. 

Rocketing out of the blocks was junior Brandon Rogers. Fresh off racing an Olympian, Rogers showed what he can do against collegiate competition, quickly gapping the field and putting Cedarville out front early as he handed off a full ten meters in front of the pack. 

Taking the baton, Gerdin took off, trying to build the lead as he stormed around the corner, running from the front. Unchallenged, Gerdin widened the gap between the Jackets and the trailing teams as he handed off the baton to junior Michael Braxton. 

With a powerful stride, Braxton took off. The race was all but over by the time he got the baton to outdoor school record holder in the 400, Jeremy Johnson. 

Johnson closed with the composure of a veteran, holding off a late surge from Grand Valley’s Joshua Page. Crossing the line, Johnson stumbled into the arms of Rogers as the two friends stared up at the clock. 

The Yellow Jackets had run a 3:09.80, shattering the former school record by nearly a second and ranking them 3rd in the country for Division II. 

“I am quite ecstatic,” Gerdin said. “I knew we had it in us; we all just had to put it together.”

But Gerdin knows that there’s a lot more coming for this team. 

“I think we still have a lot to improve on, and I know we can give more,” Gerdin said. “I’m excited to see what’s gonna come.”

All-American in cross country and the 1500, senior Emily Walsh also posted a top mark in the women’s mile. Walsh played it conservatively during the first lap, settling in towards the back of the pack as Bowling Green’s Kylee Cubbison took the group out at a blistering pace.

Walsh remained calm, however, slowly moving up in the field with each lap. While the rest of the runners began to fade, Walsh quickly picked them off like a bloodhound on the hunt, with her eyes set on Cubbison, still leading. 

With around 400 meters to go, Walsh made a surge, moving into second place. However, Anna Vess from Very Nice Track Club challenged her into the final turn, overtaking Walsh and moving back into second. 

With a final push down the home stretch, Walsh finished in 3rd place with a time of 4:47.58. This time ranks 9th in the Division II standings and should be enough to send her to the national meet along with Sultan and the 4×4. 

With the indoor circuit quickly coming to a close, it’s anyone’s guess what Cedarville will do at the conference and national levels this postseason. It’s by far one of the most talented teams in several years for the Jackets, and with each passing week, the group seems to rewrite the record books and push the levels of what’s possible. 

The Jackets will be headed back to Wittenberg on Saturday, February 21. The meet will be a tune-up for the GMAC conference championships the following week, where Cedarville will look to secure its first conference title since 2020.

Matt Schaeckenbach is a Junior Liberal Arts major from Iowa City, Iowa. He loves spending time with his family, doing shenanigans with his friends, and encouraging others in Christ.