Confident Rogers Runner Doing The Best He’S Ever Done

Ryan Craig’s running career has been like a cross country race - a lot of ups and downs.

But now that the Rogers senior is on the home stretch of his high school career, he is hoping things level out.

“I’ve been feeling strong the entire year,” Craig said. “This is really the first (time) I’ve been able to train the entire off season, nothing’s really come up.”

Craig is leading area runners in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. He was among the leaders last year but didn’t qualify for state.

He said the difference this year is a case of no freak injuries such as hurting his back wrestling with a friend.

Pirates coach Steve Kiesel thinks it’s mostly Craig, with a boost from Mother Nature.

“The main thing is morning runs, consistently, from fall until now, Monday through Friday,” Kiesel said. “An easy 30 minutes. He had a really consistent winter. We had a great winter, perfect for distance runners, no snow, temperatures weren’t that cold. He was able to get some quality work in.”

The next step was to be more like a runner with high expectations.

“We took a serious look at diet … tried to get him to do healthier things,” Kiesel said. “He was terrible. He was a typical teenager.”

So far, Craig’s best races are in the biggest meets. It started in Arcadia, Calif., in early April, when he ran 9 minutes, 10 seconds in the 3,200 and pushed Hanford standout Adam Tenforde below 9 minutes.

“We ran the first half (mile or 800) in 2:18,” Craig said. “Then I pretty much took the lead. We went 2:14, that got us down, then he pretty much took off after that.”

That also gave Craig and Kiesel confidence.

“I want to get under 9,” Craig said. “I’m pretty (confident) right now. I’m running the best I’ve run.”

On Saturday, at a big meet at Shoreline, Craig dipped to 9:07, easily winning the meet in record time.

If he gets under 9 minutes, he’ll join a pretty elite list of runners that is topped by Rogers legend Gerry Lindgren (8:37).

“There’s no doubt, I think he’s capable,” Kiesel said. “I think it’s a matter of a consistent race. All the 400s are in the 66-, 67-second range, where you’re not so up and down like they were in Arcadia. It’s just a matter of getting to that sixth lap, being on pace and just really forcing the pace from there.”

The lanky Craig, who is going to continue his career at the University of Portland, said the difference between him and Stanford-bound Tenforde, is mental.

“I should be able to run with (Tenforde). I see no reason why I couldn’t, but he is good,” Craig said. “He’s got it mentally. He’s way tougher mentally. It’s probably how bad you want it. You can run a hundred miles, you can run 30 miles. It doesn’t matter how you run, just how bad you want it. Push through the pain.”

Craig has more confidence at longer distances.

“I can handle the long drive, I just don’t really have the all-out speed you need for the mile,” he said.

However, his coach has him running 800s and 1,600s besides the 3,200. Don’t be surprised to see Craig lined up for the occasional 400.

“You have so many races in the tank, you don’t want to use them up,” Kiesel said. “We try to spread them out as much as we can. If you run that 3,200 all the time, it becomes stale, boring.”

Attending camp in Oregon gave Craig an affection for the steeplechase, but Kiesel expects him to eventually be a 10,000-meter runner.

But first he wants a time that will put him among the best ever and get him to the state meet in Tacoma on Memorial Day weekend.

“I don’t know why I want it, I just know I want it really bad,” Craig said. “I want to be the best I can.”