Star hurdler decides to stay at UCLA
By David Garcia
June 6, 2007 9:37 p.m.
Kevin Craddock is staying at UCLA.
Contrary to several rumors which have surfaced within the last week, the sophomore hurdler will remain at the university, according to athletic department sources.
There were grumblings on several online message boards about Craddock, who had allegedly been given a release from his scholarship for reasons ranging from his interest in attending another school to his intent to turn professional.
However, all these musings were put to rest on Monday when the athletic department released an official statement about Craddock’s status on the track and field team.
“After talking to the coaches and our athletic directors, and getting on the same page with the training staff, I decided to stay at UCLA,” said Craddock in a press release. “I plan on finishing my career as a Bruin and am happy to continue being a part of UCLA track and field.”
According to the coaching staff, there were some miscommunications between Craddock and his coaches which led to the hurdler’s discontent. Craddock was actually granted a release, but after sitting down with the coaches, both parties came to the conclusion that it was best for the sophomore to remain at UCLA.
“There were some issues that needed airing out,” sprints coach Tony Veney said. “There were some things misunderstood on both sides, but after we sat down and talked about it, we found out that we were both on the same page.”
Craddock, an All-American 110-meter hurdler, had his season come to a disappointing end two weeks ago at the Western Regional meet when he sustained a hamstring injury. Before that setback, Craddock was the favorite to win the high hurdle title this week in Sacramento at the NCAA Championships. Instead, he will now focus his attention on the USA Track and Field Championships in late June.
RECRUITS SHINE: Several UCLA recruits performed very well over the weekend at the California Interscholastic Federation Track and Field Championships at Sacramento City College. Most notably, women’s recruit Ke Nyia Richardson placed first in the triple jump (45 feet, 4.25 inches) while also finishing second in the long jump (20-10.25) and third in the 100m hurdles (13.32 seconds). In the pole vault, women’s recruit Tori Anthony easily won by more than a foot to win her first title after only having taken up the sport during her sophomore year. Her mark of 14-1 was just 1 inch shy of the high school record.
For the men, 800m runner Cory Primm captured his second consecutive state title by more than two seconds (1:50.95). In the field, Jonathan Clark won the triple jump title (49-0.25) while also finishing third in the high jump (6-10). Fellow recruit Daniel Kirkpatrick was the high jump champion (6-11).
POWELL HONORED: UCLA jumps coach Mike Powell was honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association this week as he was named the West Region’s women’s jumps coach of the year. The association honors the top coaches for different event areas in four different regions.
This year Powell has coached five different NCAA Championship qualifiers, three of those coming with sophomore Rhonda Watkins (indoor long jump, outdoor long jump and high jump.)
