Hurting UCLA Hurdler Craddock To Redshirt This Year

Hurting UCLA Hurdler Craddock To Redshirt This Year
(UCLA sports information)

All-American Hurdler Kevin Craddock
To Redshirt 2009 Outdoor Season

He will return to compete for the Bruins in 2010
The UCLA men’s track and field team will be without All-American hurdler Kevin Craddock for the 2009 outdoor season as the senior will use a redshirt year and return to the team in 2010. Craddock has battled with injuries throughout his career at UCLA and will look to return next season after many months off to rehabilitate and insure his health.

“Kevin is a high caliber athlete that has been hampered with injuries since he came to UCLA,” said head coach Art Venegas. “We have decided to redshirt Kevin during the 2009 outdoor season in an effort to get him as healthy as possible. He has incredible talent and potential and with a year of rest and rehabilitation, we feel Kevin will return in 2010 to achieve what we know he’s capable of.”

Craddock earned NCAA All-American honors in his freshman season with an eighth-place finish in the high hurdles. In 2007, he was the No.2 rated collegiate hurdler in the nation (13.48) and won the Pac-10 crown, but injuries forced him to miss most of the post-season. He was also an indoor NCAA qualifier in the 60m hurdles, but was unable to compete at Nationals due to injury. Last season, Craddock won the Pac-10 title for the second consecutive season, and also won the West Region crown with a meet record time of 13.47. He advanced to outdoor Nationals, but pulled up during the opening round at NCAAs. This year, Craddock was the 14th qualifier into the Indoor meet, but did not compete due to injury.