In most sports, it would be odd for coaches to compete against their players. Not in track and field.

Take the 2018 Gainesville Tom Jones Memorial Meet on April 13, for example. Syracuse hurdler Angelo Goss placed ninth in the 110-meter hurdle finals. Ahead of him, in fourth, was Freddie Crittenden, an SU volunteer assistant coach.

But Crittenden is not a coach in the traditional sense. In his time at Syracuse, Crittenden was a five-time All-American. Now, after graduating Syracuse in 2017, he is continuing to train for his professional career, which he hopes will eventually lead him to the Olympics. And since some meets Syracuse runs in are open to professional runners like Crittenden, he’s often there to run too.

“I just try to be like a teammate,” Crittenden said. “I don’t want to assume a role of authority. They’re still like my friends, my homies. I don’t want to act like I’m so much better than them, because in a lot of ways they are better than me, so I still learn from them in some ways.”

Crittenden decided to remain in the program to help him transition from college competition to the pros. He also “loves” the assistance of coach Dave Hegland, who coaches the SU hurdlers.

Hegland is just as glad Crittenden is helping out, saying it’s good for everybody.

“I think it’s good for (volunteer assistants) in that it continues to give them a little structure, access to facilities, that kind of thing,” Hegland said. “It’s good for our young kids on the team because hopefully they can continue to learn from people who have been successful and achieved some of the things that our young kids want to achieve.”

Crittenden is not the first graduate to become a volunteer assistant after graduating SU. Hegland cited many runners, including 2008 graduate Ramon Sosa, who still helps the team today in a similar role to Crittenden.

Runners like Alabama-transfer Goss have benefitted from learning from accomplished Syracuse alumni.

“That’s what I didn’t have at Alabama,” Goss said. “The whole team around showing us how to do correct stuff. Assistant coach Freddie and Ramon tell us what we’re doing wrong and what we’re doing right.”

Crittenden’s path to success has not been easy. In his junior year at Syracuse, he tore a ligament in his left knee in the Division I East Regional Finals. He said the injury held him back from winning the overall NCAA Championship, instead placing fourth two weeks later.

His senior year, Crittenden again was injured in the east regionals, this time keeping him off the track for longer. Hegland said he rebounded strong.

“He was still just right back at practice on Monday getting ready for the next thing, getting ready to hopefully compete at the USA Championships,” Hegland said.

Crittenden feels he put too much pressure on himself senior year. Since then, he said he has changed mentally.

“Since I’ve graduated, I’ve learned to kind of just let things go, let the process take place and just be patient with the season,” Crittenden said. “I don’t have to have the pressure and that constant urge to perform, perform, perform, perform and kind of slow down, take a deep breath and just enjoy the moment.”

Hegland said that Crittenden’s schedule is different enough from SU’s that it doesn’t feel like he’s still just a Syracuse runner.

Crittenden has traveled to Poland, Italy and California without the team for outdoor meets, as well as the New York Millrose games during the indoor season.

Still, Hegland says, it’s the same Crittenden he’s known the past four years.

“That’s the good thing,” Hegland said. “He’s still just the same guy coming to practice, happy to be here, wanting to work and looking forward to the next competition.”

Published on April 26, 2018 at 10:23 am

Contact Eric: [email protected]