NU cross country runner Crofford aims for All-American

Four-peat.

That's what senior runner Lara Crofford is hoping for as she prepares for her final cross country season as a Nebraska Cornhusker.

Crofford has made it to the NCAA Championships all three years of her college career and hopes to top off her senior year with a fourth appearance in mid-November.

"The best year I had was my sophomore year, and the team was there too," Crofford said. "It was nice having a group of girls that had the same mindset. It really helps having the team there."

In her freshman year, she finished 85th and improved during her sophomore year with a 45th place finish. Crofford did not place as high her junior year, finishing 113th in the NCAA Championships after a wild-card placement into the race.

Now, as a senior, Crofford looks forward to racing again and hopes to improve her times at Nationals.

"It'd be great to cap off my career on a high note," Crofford said.

With two juniors as captains, head coach Jay Dirksen feels Crofford has helped lead by example.

"She's got a tremendous work ethic, and she's a really good role model for the rest of the girls by the way she practices," Dirksen said. "She's a hard worker, and anyone that watches her knows why she's good."

Crofford has earned numerous honors and was named Most Valuable Runner on the team last season, her third time receiving the award. She was also named to the US Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic team for the second straight year. She is the fourth women's cross-country runner to receive both awards twice.

"She's in the best shape of her life and really looking good in practice," Dirksen said.

Crofford would like to qualify for Nationals again, but her ultimate goal reaches even beyond that.

"My goal since I've been here is to be an All-American, and I think I have a good chance of getting that this year," Crofford said.

Chrisdorwart@dailynebraskan.com