Salute to Seniors XI

*Editors Note: This was supposed to be the ninth edition, but I sat the publish date wrong, and the tenth went live first. There is no ninth edition, sorry for the confusion!



Name: Caleb Craft


School: Jackson, MO




Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?


A: I'm still doing our scheduled workouts, just alone or with one or two other people. I'm also training for the multi events which I plan to do in college.




Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than run right now?


A: My school moved online so I have still have class work each day. I'm also helping around the house and taking time to do some fun things I've been wanting to do with my friends.



Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?


A: At sectionals last year our 4x400 was just hoping to advance to State. It was a really windy day and our coach helped us come up with a good race plan and we all PRd and became sectional champions.


Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?


A: I'm the only hurdler at Jackson who has hurdled for 4 years in a row, so my coach uses me as an example for new hurdlers and junior high hurdlers even in drills. Not many people expect me to fall, but it never fails every year I take a tumble during an example.


Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?


A: This area is full of good competition. I would say consistently over the past four years I've always gone back and forth with Keon Graham, a senior from Sikeston High School.


Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?


A: At this point it is running at State last year. I hope to change that to standing on the podium at State after this season.


Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?


A: I would have started training for the multis a lot earlier.


Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?


A: I've dealt with a few injuries. I've had to overcome a hip injury and pretty bad back injury that set me back a little bit.


Q: What will you miss the most?


A: The team aspect. I love the trips, hearing everyone giving you motivation at practice, hanging out in the tent at meets. The list could go on and on.


Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?


A: Find what you like to do and work at it until you're good. It's hard to want to get better if you don't like the event you're doing.


Q: What kind of an impact has your coach had on you and your team?


A: The past three years Coach Stoverink has a been a great head coach. He's always getting us to meets where we're going to have the best competition. He's happy to help out during practice wherever he's needed. Coach McDowell, the hurdle coach, has had a huge impact on me personally. He's always pushed me where I didn't think I could go and he's made me person in that process.


Q: What are your college plans?


A: I'm attending Missouri S&T to major in Mechanical Engineering and compete for the track team.


Q: Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?


A: My parents for always being there to support me. I'd also like to thank all of my coaches. Coach McDowell and Coach Crowden both had significant impacts on my athletic experience, but they've also helped shape me as a person.