For a sprinter, Craig Green '16 sure knows how to handle a hurdle.
Upon graduating from public school, Craig thought he was all set to attend and run track at the University of Louisville. Craig's college plans took a wrong turn during the summer, though, and he was suddenly in need of a new home away from home.
He found that home at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, and then he made his college decision with the ease that he runs on the track.
After a December visit, Craig verbally committed to run track at the University of Kentucky. He signed his National Letter of Intent in front of a crowd of 50 people at the Academy April 18.
"Coming here was a whirlwind," Craig admitted. "After deciding to come here, it was the best decision I've made. Visiting Kentucky right before Christmas, I fell in love with the school, the atmosphere, and how the coach treated my family and I. I knew it was the place I wanted to be. I loved the school."
And Craig loves being on the track. He's easily won the 100- and 200-meter dashes in his first two spring meets, flirting with the school records in both events each race.
"My season's going well," he said. "My starts still need some work, and my times aren't the best, but it's still early in the season. As I progress they will be where I want them to be. I'm happy where they are right now and as we progress they will get better."
"Craig's done a remarkable job for the first two meets," Coach Paul Ekness said. "He's come close to tying the school record in the 100 and 200. He has beautiful form in both events. It's great to have an athlete at the beginning of the season run at that caliber. The coaches and I will work to get his times to keep going down. He's a great athlete to work with."
Craig's looking to top his PRs of 10.45 in the 100 and 21.40 in the 200. Both of those times would be school records at WMA. The Academy marks are 10.98 and 22.3.
"I set the school record my freshman year at Falmouth, and I've broken it every year ever since," he said. "It would be cool to set another record at another school."
Craig will head to Kentucky in June.