In his senior year of running cross country for the Sycamores, Craig Padgett finished fourth, earned All-Conference honors and contributed to the team's third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Championship Title.

"There is no feeling that compares to winning a championship with some of your best friends, and to win it three times, (five times including track), is just an absolutely incredible feeling," Padgett said.

Padgett began his running career at Indiana State University in 2006.  Padgett said he made verbal commitments coming out of high school to the University of  Pittsburgh.  After jumping on the idea of missing a day of school for an official visit to Indiana State University, Padgett said he enjoyed the visit so much that he broke his previous commitment and came to Terre Haute.

In his collegiate career, Padgett trained for cross country in the fall and indoor and outdoor track and field in the spring.  Part of his workout regime involve running miles which are recorded each week. In the summer months, Padgett said he can average up to 120 miles a week in preparation for the upcoming cross country season.  In season, he said, the average is closer to 100 miles a week.  

He added that the men's cross country team utilizes the various trails and parks in Terre Haute and West Terre Haute to run.

Padgett was named All-Missouri Valley Conference in 2009, 2010 and 2011.  His highest finish in the conference meet was fourth place in the 2010 and 2011 conferences.  Padgett's personal best in the 8k was 24:35 in the 2009 Bradley Open.  The time earned him the sixth fastest 8k time in Sycamore cross country history.  Padgett was also named All-Great Lakes Region when he finished 23rd in the 10k.  Padgett's time of 31:39:85 is the 10th fastest 10K time in ISU history.  

Padgett said his most memorable moment in collegiate cross country was two years ago at the MVC Championships at Bradley University.  He said it was  cold, muddy and Southern Illinois University was the preseason poll favorite.  The Sycamores defeated Southern Illinois by one point to take the title that year.

Padgett said he became involved in running as a result of his high school coach's influence.  Padgett said during his freshman year, he tried out for the high school football team but was not large enough.  It was then, he said, that the cross country coach approached Padgett who said the had the potential to be all-conference by his junior and senior years.  

Padgett did better than expected.  He won conference his sophomore and senior year.  Padgett said, in his sophomore year, he won or was part of the winning team in every track event he competed in.  

"I've been running cross country for the last eight years of my life, and it has provided me with some of the best memories of my life," Padgett said. "Not because of the things I accomplished, but the people I met and the friendships I have. I will miss all the people I've met when I graduate and don't get to do this anymore."