04.22.08
North distance runner Gragg headed to Fresno St.
North distance runner Gragg headed to Fresno St.
BY ZACH EWING, Californian staff writer
zewing@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 8:43 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 8:46 PM
With cameras clicking and people cheering Tuesday in North High’s cafeteria, distance runner Cody Gragg stole one glance away from the dotted line.
“It was hard to not focus on the camera and focus on the paper,” Gragg said. “Pretend it’s not there. The nerves were coming.”
What’s even harder, Gragg said, is becoming an accomplished distance runner in just three years. That’s what he’s done, going out for track his freshman year only because he was struggling in baseball, and then for cross country the next fall because he wasn’t already on the football team.
“I was going to play football my freshman year, but I pulled my groin, so I didn’t do anything,” Gragg said. “… I went out for track, gave it a shot, and it kind of skyrocketed from there.”
He’s become one of Bakersfield’s premier runners, taking 11th in the Central Section meet with a time of 16:00 and qualifying for the state meet. He also owns a top-10 time among section runners in the 3,200 meters and a top-20 time in the 1,600.
“Darrin Sundgren and Bill Lind, our distance coaches, have worked really hard with him,” said Allan Smart, North’s head track and field coach. “(Gragg) was the diamond in the rough.”
Gragg, who chose Fresno State over Long Beach State and some smaller schools, said the ride has made him thankful for that injured groin.
“I sure like the way things played out,” Gragg said.
He was also happy for all of Tuesday’s hullabaloo — if not entirely comfortable with it.
“It takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders,” Gragg said. “… It’s a little (uncomfortable), but I’m glad they all came out. I’d rather everybody be here than nobody be here.”
