Wisconsin Lutheran's Niyer Clayborn sweeps the hurdles and resets his own 110 record

LA CROSSE — Niyer Clayborn spent the spring chasing himself. At the state meet, it didn't matter — no one else was close.

Niyer Clayborn of Wisconsin Lutheran won the Division 1 boys' 110-meter hurdles in 13.80 on Friday, breaking the meet record — which, like De Pere's distance title a few events over, was his own. Clayborn had set the 110 hurdles meet record at 13.92 a year ago; he lowered it to 13.80 to open his weekend.

And here's what the record run doesn't even show: he has been faster. Clayborn ran 13.59 on May 29, the quickest of his season, part of a remarkably steady year — four straight races between 13.59 and 13.70. He has dropped from 14.11 a year ago into the 13.5s, a half-second leap at the very top of the event.

He wasn't done. Clayborn also won the 300-meter hurdles in a season-best 37.87, completing a sweep of both hurdle events. The speed that powers it is no secret — he has run 22.60 for 200 meters and 11.02 for 100 — but turning that into hurdle titles at both distances is its own craft.

Two hurdle golds, a broken record, and a season best still faster than the mark that won it. Niyer Clayborn had the kind of state meet that rewrites a résumé.