Semoball

Crafton leads Van Buren runners to home win

Van Buren's Matt Crafton runs Wednesday in a meet in Van Buren. (Alex Abate/DAR)

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

VAN BUREN -- Van Buren's Matt Crafton was dripping with sweat as he pushed toward the finish of the 3.1-mile course Wednesday afternoon.

Crafton placed second overall with a time of 20 minutes, 50 seconds and was one of three Bulldogs to finish in the top 10 in the event as Van Buren took first place overall with a score of 51.

"It feels pretty good," Crafton said. "Last year I got first in a lot of races but this year I have been in not as good of shape -- I need to get in better shape."

Van Buren coach Randal Jenkins was pleased with how his team finished this week after finishing last week in second place to Koshkonong at a race in Alton.

"I thought we were much better in our spacing today " Jenkins said. "That really made a big difference in our total score."

Britney Peterson led the Lady Bulldogs with an eighth-place finish at 27:15. Denise Haberl (27:48) was 11th followed by Christon Oatman (27:55) and Betsey Sanders (28:29). Whitney VanWinkle (29:40) was 16th as Van Buren finished 44 points behind Alton.

The Bulldogs beat Koshkonong by 14 points as Ian Newberry (21:16) was fifth and Brandon Tucker (21:42) was ninth. Zane Betz (22:23) finished 17th followed by Cory Kennedy (22:25).

Couch (67 points), Alton (73), Doniphan (153) and Naylor (239) also had team scores in the boys race.

It was good that three Bulldogs finished in the top 10 overall, Jenkins said.

"It was one of our goals to have three or four in the top 10," Jenkins said. "We accomplished that and now we have to keep working."

The course was not easy for the runners, not only because of the high temperature but because of the sharp incline of a road about two-thirds of the way along the course.

"The course is pretty flat at first and then once you get to that hill you have to save some energy because it is hard," Crafton said. "I felt pretty good but about half way up the hill I started cramping a little bit."

After the hill, the course curved but it evened out for the runners as it neared the finish.

"It feels pretty good that you are on top and not on the curve," Crafton said. "It is almost an incline of five."

Crafton started a bit faster than normal Wednesday because the team didn't warm up for as long it usual does, he said. "Usually we stretch a bit more and get warmed but we didn't stretch hardly at all," he said.

Crafton has been running cross country for four years and has improved vastly from how he performed during his freshman year he said.

"My freshman year, I slacked a bit and my sophomore year I tried a little harder and last year was my best year," he said.

Jenkins said Crafton was disappointed after last week's performance and really worked hard going into this week.

"He will be one of the top guys in the district, probably -- Ian and Brandon have really worked hard too and they are right there with him which pushes him which is good for us," Jenkins said.

Although some may see cross country as rather uninteresting, Crafton really enjoys his experiences when he runs, he said.

"It is pretty fun because you get to see many things and get to talk to a lot of different people," he said. "Once you run a lot, it feels better when you are done."

Crafton still has some unfinished business he would like to complete before he graduates, he said.

"I would like to get in the 17-minute range for three miles," he said. "I have gotten in the 18 range once -- I think some of the races aren't as difficult and I think I can get it."

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