ENID —



Enid’s James Craven “wasn’t feeling too good’’ when he arrived at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center Coliseum for the 5A-6A competition of the OBA Trojan Indoor Games Friday.

His confidence and spirits, though, changed with a third-place finish in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.17 seconds, an improvement over an 8.54 he had in finishing seventh at last week’s Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Indoor Championships.

“I’ve been waiting for that all of my high school career,’’ Craven said. “It feels good to finally get there.’’

Craven placed in only one meet (sixth at Putnam City) during last year’s outdoor season as a junior. The coaches felt he had potential, but was missing too many practices.

Craven, a member of the Church of the Later Day Saints (Mormons), said those practices conflicted with church-related events.

“I know he (EHS head coach Joe Miranov) wasn’t very happy with me,’’ Craven said. “I put that (church) before everything else, but I was there (at practices) as I much as I could be.’’

His religious convictions, Craven said, give him motivation on the track.

“I give all the glory to God and leave it all out on the track,’’ he said. “The football guys have their field. I got my track, and I leave it out there.’’

Craven has been at all the practices recently. Miranov sees a different Craven than he’s seen in the past.

“He’s more focused this year, and it’s not just because he’s a senior,’’ Miranov said. “He’s more focused on what he’s got to do. He’s seen he’s had more success by finishing the workouts and doing what’s he’s supposed to be doing. It’s really good for him.’’

The Trojan Indoor Games field, Miranov said, was deeper than last week’s OTCA meet.

“I think the workouts are paying off for him,’’ Miranov said. “He feels good about what he’s doing. He’s really coming along and listening to the coaches about what you have to do.’’

Being a senior, Craven said he’s more mature.

“With that comes a deeper insight on how everything runs,’’ he said. “Having a positive attitude makes a very big difference. I definitely came to do something today, and I did it. I’m happy with that.’’

But his goal was just to make the finals for the second straight week.

“I wasn’t expecting this,’’ he said. “This definitely boosts my confidence. I’m looking for a good year. My hopes for state aren’t looking very grim any more.’’

New assistant coach Steve Hula ran him through some new drills.

“I am definitely in better shape now,’’ Craven said. “I’m feeling better than I did last week. I’m getting my steps down. I’ve been practicing through the week, thanks to coach Hula here.’’

Particularly key for Craven was getting lower to the hurdles.

“I’ve always been scared of going over the hurdles because of my height,’’ Craven said. “I just got as close as I could and kept my form. I snapped my leg through and did well.’’

Craven teamed with Seth Handley, Johnny Lawrence and Raheem Mitchell to win the 4x160 relay in 1:15.50. Handley took the 400 meters in 50.92 and teamed with Tajze Porter, Alex McCoy and Alex Lofton to finish third in the 4x160 relay in 2:44.99.

Plainsmen teammate Sean Handley won the 400 meters with a time of 50.92 and anchored the gold-medal winning 4x160 relay, which had a time of 1:15.50.

Lawrence (19-3) and Lofton (18-4) were third and sixth in the long jump. EHS, with 55 points, were third as a team behind Edmond Santa Fe (148.50) and Norman (111).

Pacer placers were Holly Stuart, second, triple jump, 30-101⁄2; Chauntresse Tiatrakul, fifth, 55 meters, 7.84 and third, high jump, 4-8; Cara Merz, fourth, 800 meters, 2:42.44; Brittany Urban, fourth, 1,600 meters, 5:50.04.

That quartet was third in the 4x800 relay in 10:57.47. Merz, Urban and Stuart teamed with Tyler Berge to finish fifth in the 4x320 relay in 3:27.73. Enid was fourth in the girls team competition with 42 points. Edmond Santa Fe won with 141.

“It was a very good day for us,’’ Miranov said.