As a new class of seniors look toward the ever-closer day of graduation, Caleb Bartlett is at peace with his future after Shippensburg University.

Bartlett is no normal student. He is a standout track-and-field star that returned to SU for a fifth year to compete in the 2016-2017 indoor and outdoor track seasons. He is the SU record-holder in the hammer throw with a distance of 200 feet, 6 inches, which he reached in the spring 2016 outdoor season.

Bartlett is from Greencastle, PA, located just before the Maryland border. He is a criminal justice major, also recently adding a coaching minor – which is another reason why he returned for a fifth year.

Bartlett said he has no desire to be a cop after college – citing the fact that his father is a former officer and he was already exposed to that field – saying he is looking into applying to be a firefighter. He has not focused too much on life after graduation because he is completely focused on competing in the upcoming Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships and, he hopes, in the NCAA Division II Championships at the end of May.

Bartlett did not come in to SU as an invited member of the track team. He was actually a walk-on.

“My coach saw me on campus one time and said: ‘Hey, I know you from throws camp (summer program at Shippensburg High School), I thought you were still in high school! I have a spot for you on the team.’” Said Bartlett

He said this was one of the most memorable moments of his career. He also said that breaking the school’s record in the hammer and competing in nationals was up there as well.

“My goal was to make it to nationals by this year, my senior year,” Bartlett said. “But I was pleasantly surprised to have made it last year.”

Bartlett continued to improve over the course of his career at SU, constantly pushing his own limits and breaking his own records. His name became synonymous with the hammer and weight throws at SU and he had big expectations for himself every time he stepped into the box.

An unfortunate setback hit Bartlett at the beginning of this past indoor season when he injured his ankle on his last weight throw at the Gulden Invitational held at Bucknell University.

“I felt pretty solid about indoors. I was definitely a little down. I had big goals for the season,“ Bartlett said.

He said he was actually able to step up as a coach during that period when one of the throwing coaches had to take some time off for personal reasons. Bartlett helped coach the weight throw and gave advice to his teammates while he was injured. He said it was something he really enjoyed and he was glad he got the opportunity to get some coaching experience.

Bartlett returned to competition in style, placing first in the weight throw after nearly a month of sitting on the sidelines. He did not let the injury slow him down going into the PSAC Indoor Championships. He was a big factor in helping SU win its seventh-straight championship, finishing first in the weight throw.

Looking forward to the outdoor championships, Bartlett has high expectations for himself and for his teammates. He wants to go back to Florida for nationals, joking about the great weather but also aiming high in the hammer.

“I’m hoping, if I make it down there, to hit an even bigger throw and hopefully get into the First Team All-American standings,” Bartlett said.

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