Poca's Josh Crites Hurdles Past Competition

For my article on Thursday's Cardinal Conference Track Championships, I focused on Poca senior hurdler Josh Crites and his victories in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-intermediate hurdles.

To read that article in today's Daily Mail, click here.

With space limitations, I wasn't able to include all the material from my interviews with Crites and Poca coach John Bonecutter. Below are some extra quotes from my interviews.

Josh Crites, Poca senior hurdler

-on his friendly competition with Herbert Hoover's Josh Gurski

“We’ve had all kinds of meets together. Me and Josh Gurski are pretty good friends just going to meets together.”

-on defeating Gurski in the 110 hurdles

“It felt pretty good. I’ve never ran against Josh Gurksi in highs before. He’s a pretty good athlete, pushed me a little bit more. It’s great competition.”

-on how he started running track, hurdles

“I first started track sophomore year and I had some friends that ran and they were trying to persuade me because I was tall and thought I could get out there and use those legs.”

John Bonecutter, Poca track coach

-on Crites' progress during his three years running track

“His first year was his sophomore year. He had never ran track before, so this is only his third year he’s ever been running and each year he progresses a little bit more. We’re hoping it continues here over the next three weeks. He’s having a pretty good year so far this year.”

-on Crites' performance at Gazette/Friends of Coal Relays

“I was very happy with his 110 hurdle time and how he ran in the 110s. I thought he ran a good race in the finals. His prelim time was OK, but you never have your better time in the prelims. It’s normally in the finals. I was happy with how he ran the 110s. He made a good race in shuttles as well. His 300 time is where we’re going to spend a lot of time trying to improve, because I don’t think he’s anywhere near his potential in the 300s yet.”

-on where Crites can improve 

“I don’t think we’re attacking those first two hurdles, the front stretch of the race, we’re not attacking it like we need to, so we’re going to spend a lot of time on that.”

-on Crites as a sophomore

“That first year, he was a little wild. His arms were a little crazy. It took a while.”

-on Crites' improvement

“I would say the biggest improvement has been his 110s this year. He was as good in the 110s this year, but I really feel like he’s starting to come into his own there. I still think shuttles are still his favorite race of them all. I know he likes the relay there, but I think he’s starting to like the 110s as well.”

-on Crites' potential

“I really think that he can be as good as he wants to be in either event. Last year, I felt like his stronger event was the 300s. This year, I think he’s stronger in the 110s. Again, I hope that changes in the next couple weeks, because the 300s was kind of his big event the last couple years and I think what has kind of happened a little bit to us is he needed  a lot more work in the 110s and that’s where we’ve really put the work in this year and it’s paying off. His 110s are getting much, much better, but we haven’t worked as much in the 300s and we’re going to get back to that in the next couple weeks.”

-on Crites' goals

“In the 300s this year, he’s run 41 one time and most of his times come in around 43 seconds. I still don’t think he’s attacking that front stretch. If he attacks the front stretch, I think he’ll go under 41. He’ll be 40 point something. We talked this year and his goal was to get under that 41-second mark and I think we can do that in the 300s.”