On February 27th, 2025, Coach Shaklee scheduled practice for Jack Tindall and was happy to see several members of his distance squad show-up to run a while with Jack. In passing, arguing that he was as good with a camera as our photographer, the Coach took a few pics of the guys and passed them along! Thanks Coach! Great job! YOU GO, JACK! . . . YOU GO, GUYS!
On March 2nd, 2025, the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions was held at the Ocean Breeze Sports Complex on Staten Island, NY and Cherokee had some mixed results!
As usual, the Volunteer Indoor Distance Coach Shaklee provided the best view of Cherokee events!
"The 2025 New Jersey Indoor Meet of Champions, showcased some absolutely incredible athletes and demonstrated the depth of talent in this state! On the Cherokee boy's side, the three athletes who made the meet - Senior Sam Green, High Jump; Senior Tobin Horwath, Pole Vault; and Freshman, Jack Tindall, 1600 - came away with mixed results.
"Sam was having some leg issues which hampered him and he was never able to get things going, no-heighting on his opening three attempts. Still, Sam has had a good winter season and, with some time to heal and train, will be ready for great things this Spring!
"Tobin once again cleared 13' which has now become the norm for him! He ended the competition tied for 10th place! Not bad for a guy who only took up the event last year! He had a great indoor campaign topped off by his Group 4 State Championship last week! As he adjusts to the longer pole, look out! He is ready for an outstanding Spring Season!
"Jack continued his return from injury in a big way! After wearing a boot and not running a step from the MOC in cross country, until Christmas Day, when he started a very gradual return, he has simply gotten better every time he raced! His progression looks like this: Jan 22nd - 4:25.7 for 4th at the SJ Elite Meet; Feb 14th - 4:22.81 - 2nd at Sectionals; Feb 23rd - 4:19.57 - 2nd at the Group 4 State Meet; and Mar 2nd - 4:14.92 for 9th at the State Meet of Champs! Jack's time is a new State Indoor Freshman Record and it is the fastest time run by a freshman in the nation this year! That time puts him at 5th on the All-Time Cherokee list for the 1600, behind only Bobby Poplau - 2024; Shawn Wilson - 2013; Marc Pelerin - 2002; and Nick Kuenkel - 2024! Most incredibly, he was able to do this off relatively limited training! With a good, consistent block of work over the next eight weeks, it will be fun to see just how fast he can go by the end of the Spring Track Season!
"Congratulations to all three athletes on their impressive accomplishments this winter!"
Details at: NJ.MileSplit.
Both Tom Smith and our photographer worked the meet, Tom generally at the finish line, and our photographer at the HJ/Vaulting area. The first five pictures below of Jack Tindall in the 1600m were shot by Tom, and the remaining pictures of Sam Green, Tobin Horwath and Jack Tindall were shot by our photographer. They're all available on our Google site!
