WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Saying the Harrison Track and Field program is just "big" is a colossal understatement. The Raiders had 200 total athletes this year; one of their largest rosters in school history. 20% of that group graduated this spring. The 40 senior Raiders are next up on the WLFI Senior Spotlight.
The 19 Girls and 21 Boys that made up the class of 2020 were no strangers to bringing home the hardware. The girls track program won four straight NCC titles, while the boys earned back to back sectional championships. In 2019, both squads were conference champions.
All that success didn't come easy. Head Coach Chris Crum chalked it all up to maturity.
"I just think this group of seniors were older and wiser than their grade," said Crum. " Most of them, I had as a freshman. They just were older souls."
Crum says there was a healthy balance of levity and hard work.
"We played around, we joked around but they really got down to business. And I think that's what the Freshmen...they missed out on. We can have fun. We're gonna work our tails off and then hopefully we're successful at the end," said Crum.
The longtime head coach, reflecting on his tenure at the helm of the Raider Track and Field program, said that he will miss this group especially.
"I miss just seeing them fight and and be competitive. That's why I coach," said Crum.