Crull running the distance threesome

Jack Crull of Helias runs on the straightaway during the 1,600-meter run last year in the Class 4 state track and field championships at Adkins Stadium.
Jack Crull of Helias runs on the straightaway during the 1,600-meter run last year in the Class 4 state track and field championships at Adkins Stadium.

It was all Jack Crull's idea.

"I've put in a lot more work to where I can handle all of them," Crull said earlier this week as the Helias junior prepared to run in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs in the Class 4 state track and field championships.

How much work?

"Good weather, things go well, it's probably 40 miles a week," Crull said.

And if things aren't going so well?

"Maybe lower 30s," Crull said.

The championships, originally scheduled for Friday and today at Adkins Stadium, will now be held today at Washington High School.

In the original schedule, the 800- and the 1,600-meter runs would have been held Friday with the 3,200 set for today. Now all three will be held today.

"I'll have to kill it for every single one," Crull said.

Helias coach Brad Hake said Thursday the plan is for Crull to still run in all three events even with the condensed schedule.

"It's obviously not going to help Jack at all, but he's prepared really hard and there's going to be other guys in a similar situation," he said.

Crull enters today with the best times in the state in any class in the 800 and 1,600.

"Jack really stepped it up this season," Hake said. "Jack's accomplishments didn't just happen. Obviously, he's gifted. But his accomplishments are because of his hard work."

Crull enjoys facing good competition.

"I really like when somebody comes up and pushes me to run a better time," he said. "It feels good when you have people running together, pushing each other."

Crull's day will start with the 1,600 at 1:30 p.m.

"It"s always been my favorite race, I'm trying to improve on it," he said. "You have to guess what you want to do, but depending on the competition, there's a variety of what can happen and you have to be ready for that."

Crull was third in the 1,600 at state last year (4:17.28).

There will be a 90-minute break before the 800 is scheduled to start. Crull was third in the state in the 800 last year (1:55.50).

The 3,200 is slated to begin at 4:10 p.m.

"He'll have his two best events behind him and he can just go out there and compete in the 3,200," Hake said.

Crull said the 800 is basically a sprint for two laps while the 3,200 is "strategic."

"You can plan the way you want to run," he said.

Earlier in the week, Crull knew getting rest and staying out of the heat was going be be important. And with the condensed schedule, it will be even more so.

"I'll try to keep as cool as possible, find some shade and get my legs up," Crull said. "Ice packs, try to stay as cool as I can."

Crull doesn't have medal goals for state. He just wants to improve on his personal records in the three events - 1:54 in the 800, 4:13 in the 1,600 and 9:17 in the 3,200.

"I would like to get PRs in the 800 and the 1,600," Crull said.

When it comes to the 3,200, he'll just see what happens.

"I can most improve on the 3,200, I haven't had a crazy amount of races in it," Crull said. "I don't know the best way to cut off some time. Is it a fast start or a slow start? I haven't decided which is the best one."

Crull is a three-time state medalist in cross country. He was third in Class 3 last fall after finishing fifth as a sophomore and 14th as a freshman.

He said the biggest difference between track and cross country is the mental side.

"You know where you are on the track, but on the cross country course, sometimes you forget," Crull said. "When you're in the 3,200, you have to tell yourself to hit the times."

Crull is familiar with the track at Washington. Helias ran in the district championships there earlier this month and Crull was the winner in all three of his races.

"He ran some of his best races there in districts," Hake said. "We'll see what we can do (today)."

Crull is the only Helias state qualifier.

Hake said other Crusaders and Lady Crusaders had their best times in running events and best marks in field events of the season at sectional, but didn't advance.

"As long as you do that and people just beat you, I can handle that," Hake said. "We gave our best effort."