Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Craig Virgin

Craig Virgin on Oct. 25, 1972, while on the Lebanon High School cross country team. - BNDI just want them to know that if a skinny little farm kid from Lebanon, Illinois, with a chronic kidney ailment and no track and no weight room can eventually go on to make the Hall of Fame, then they can, too.

-- Craig Virgin (1955-), on his 3 December 2011 induction to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame

I grew up in Lebanon, and my two oldest brothers were on the cross country team with Craig. His accomplishments include:

* Wins in all 48 of the prep cross country meets he entered as a junior and senior, setting records in 47 of them.

* Wins in 95 of 100 cross country races from his sophomore year in high school to his senior year at Illinois.

* Nine Big Ten titles at Illinois -- 4 in cross country and 5 in track.

* Two cross country world championships.

His 1972 time of 13:50.6 in the Illinois State High School Cross Country Championship still stands after 39 years. He didn't run before 9th grade.

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