In the end, the creature comforts of home won out for Jack Sachse.

Despite being courted by some of the country’s top track programs, the Ottawa High senior signed a letter of intent last week to join the Kansas University men’s track and field team next fall.

“I initially wanted to go out of state, but this is just where I felt most comfortable,” said Sachse, who took official recruiting trips to Michigan, Oregon, Nebraska and Arkansas before signing his KU letter Nov. 16 – the final day of the early signing period.

“I was pretty sure the whole time going into the signing period that KU was where I was going to go. But I just wanted to think it all over and consider all my options.”

Sachse won the Class 5A state title in the 800 meters last spring and also ran a leg on the 1,600-meter relay team that finished second at the state meet. Both events could be in his future with the Jayhawks, as well as a possible jump to the 1,600.

However, it’s the tutelage he’ll receive in his specialty that also helped KU emerge as the front-runner in his college search.

“I really like Coach (Stanley) Redwine,” Sachse said about the KU boss. “He was an 800-meter runner himself in his prime, so he knows what he’s doing.”