The Shadow
ALLEGHANY CO., VA- Talk about ending a career, and a whole school’s final year, on a high note.
Alleghany’s track star Drew Craft left his mark in the Mountaineer record books in and will never be forgotten after securing a state championship.
In the final outdoor track meet in the school’s history, Craft secured a distance of 45-05.00 in the triple jump that crowned him a state champ, and put his name in the history books, a place where his name can never be removed.
And with all his accomplishments through the years, that moment was the most special for him.
“My biggest accomplishment in my mind and the one that I ended up getting was to be a state champion. The fact that I did it in one year and on my last jump made it that much better,” Craft stated proudly.
As special as the moment was, however, reality sat in that it was also the last one for him personally at the school, and that is when the emotions came to surface.
“I’ll miss the atmosphere of high school track,” Craft said.
“The way i could go to any meet and make friends with guys I continued to talk to all season and how fun practices were. We’d work hard but also have a lot of fun doing it,” he continued.
Craft is already signed, sealed and delivered to Emory and Henry’s track program, and the graduated senior loves the size of that campus and the fact that he will not be just another student in the classroom.
“Emory and Henry stuck out to me because I’ve always liked a smaller, secluded campus. It’s close enough to get to town, but out far enough where it’s peaceful. The coaching there seems to be great, and they seem like they’re involved not only on the athletic side, but on the academic and mental side too. Also, the fact that the classes are so small that the professors actually know me well and I can reach out to them for any help without any problems,” he explained.
Those factors can also help him reach his goals, which are extremely lofty, but will be doable due to Craft’s determination, focus and potential for continued growth in the sport.
“My goals at the next level are reaching the potential I know I have since I’m so new to all of this. I’d like to hold the school record for both the outdoor and indoor triple and long jump. The biggest one of all is to be an all-american at some point in my collegiate career,” Craft said.
If all those things happen, Craft will be a frequent guest speaker at his old high school, but he also has some encouraging advice to younger students who are thinking about throwing their hat in the track ring, so to speak.
“After a lot of hard work, to be at the top of the podium is an honor,” Craft said.
“I hope to inspire more of the guys and girls coming through to the track program at Alleghany especially with the new track coming this fall. It’s a great way to meet new friends, have fun as long as you can stand the workouts, and show off your true athletic abilities,” he finished.
Craft will enroll at Emory and Henry this fall.
