(Atlantic) An Atlantic athlete will compete in the SEC. UNI Track and Field transfer Craig Alan Becker has landed at Tennessee.
Becker spent his freshman season with the Panthers, but entered the transfer portal immediately following the Missouri Valley Conference championships. “I continued to train. I didn’t take any time off after conference. From there I went and did three races. I did a time trial where we had official timing, so I was able to send it to coaches since it wasn’t hand timing. That’s where I ran a 1:52 which was a two second PR and was really big to get that in. I knew I could do it, because I ran it once in a split at the Drake Relays. I think that really played a role in the following race that I did. There was a mile race and I was able to run a 4:12 there. Both were big improvements from my times at UNI.”
Following his times of 1:52 in the 800 and 4:12 in the mile, a few suitors came calling. “I’m excited for it. Ever since I was a sophomore in high school that’s when I really knew I wanted to run track in college. I knew I wanted to run track in the SEC. It’s just crazy to think that after all this time it is happening. It wasn’t probably the road that I wanted.” Becker says, “I’m really going to miss UNI a lot and a lot of the people there were incredible, but at the same time it’s just really cool to see God’s faithfulness in allowing me to pursue this dream and I can’t wait to see what comes up.”
Tennessee and their coaching staff put an emphasis on developing runners. “I asked the coach where he saw me fitting into the program and he just said they don’t really look at times.” Becker adds the coaching staff told him. “I just want you to come here and train and from that training, that’s where I’ll figure out how you fit in.”
Becker says the intense workouts he went through this summer helped develop a belief and confidence that he can compete at a major Division I conference school.
Atlantic alum Craig Alan Becker:
