Records are made to be broken, as the old saying goes.

But records are also made to preserve the memories of former record holders. That one’s our own thought, but it held true as we thought about Leyton Salvatore, a Warren Area High School sophomore who broke the school’s 800-meter record by more than 2 full seconds during Friday’s Altoona Invitational. It’s quite a feat for Salvatore, especially considering the sophomore has two more years to compete.

As we celebrate Leyton’s accomplishment, it’s a good time to take a look back at the athlete who used to hold the 800-meter record: Caleb Hultman.

Hultman died in 2020 at the age of 25 after a workplace accident in St. Mary’s. His love of running started when he was 8 years old and ran in the Cinco de Mayo 5K with a friend. From those beginnings Hultman became a standout cross-country and track athlete at WAHS, holding the 800 meter record until Friday as well as the school record in the 4 by 400-meter relay. Hultman’s relay team was three-time District 10 champions and competed at the state championship.

A scholarship at the Community Foundation of Warren County in Hultman’s name aims to help fellow runners help pay for college. Money is raised each year with a memorial softball tournament, reflecting another of Hultman’s favorite activities. Hultman was also an organ donor who helped save other people’s lives.

Congratulations to Leyton Salvatore for quite the accomplishment. And thanks, Leyton, for once again bringing Caleb Hultman back to the forefront – even if it was only for one day.