Columbus North’s Denton Sluder (573) approaches the finish line at the Cross Country State Finals Nov. 2, 2024 at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
The Republic file photo
With a grandfather who played baseball at Indiana State and a father who ran cross-country and track for the Sycamores, Denton Sluder might have seemed destined for Terre Haute.
The Columbus North incoming senior has made a verbal commitment to continue his cross-country and track career at ISU, where his father Rick — who now is his coach at North — once starred.
“I always enjoyed running, and I just knew out of the schools I was looking at, it had they best fit for me,” Denton said. “It was the program where I felt I belonged to it. I knew their history since my dad went there and how they want to improve and achieve their goals. I knew I could be a valuable fit. I left my options open, but my dream was to run at Indiana State.”
Denton Sluder
Denton took a Junior Day visit to ISU during track season and made an unofficial visit earlier this month. He plans to major in business.
“I knew a lot of about the program, and I know they have a good business school, which is what I want to study,” he said. “I know the area, too, pretty well, so for me, it just made sense.”
His father, who like his grandfather, is named Rick Sluder, earned 12 letters — four each in cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track — for the Sycamores from 1995-2000. He earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors, held the 5,000-meter school record in track and was a team captain for both cross-country and track.
Indiana State was the only school Denton visited.
“We always thought it would be neat if he did (go there), but when we took our visit, it clicked for him,” Rick Sluder said. “I asked him if he wanted to go one more place, and he said, ‘No Dad, this is where I want to be.’ It does make you feel really good that he wanted to go there.”
Denton, whose mother ran at Bradley, has been a part of state-qualifying cross-country teams the past two years and was a regional qualifier in the 3,200 meters in track this spring. His goal for his senior cross-country season is to finish in the top 25 at state — which would earn him All-State honors — and help lead the Bull Dogs to a state team championship.
“I just want to help my team the best I can,” Denton said.
