Who was/is Craig Virgin?

StatsRus wrote:-Fastest 10k ever in a US championship (27:39.4)

-Fastest 10k ever in the OT (27:45.61) and 3 of the top 5 times

All-Time Olympic Trials 10k

27:45.61 1 Craig Virgin '80

Statsrus you might want to get your stats updated or you'll go down the tubes liek toysrus...not sure if anyones point that out, but you've seem to have forgotten about last olympic trials. 27:36.49 win for Meb.

Tee Hee Hee. Woulda Coulda Shoulda! Check the date on the post where Statsrus posted. It was 2003. MRR does it again! Tee Hee Hee. It is what it is!

! wrote:

virgin also ran an 8:45 indoors on UI's ~260y track his sr yr in HS.

I grew up in Illinois and heard all sorts of Craig Virgin stories. But this is amazing. I went to U of I--did he run this in the Armory on that track??

Whenever someone started talking up some Illinois runner, one of the old-time coaches would always say, "Yeah, he's good, but no Craig Virgin. You should have seen him in this one race..." And the stories would begin.

yes, it was at the U of I armory...interestingly, dave merrick of new lenox lincoln way ran 8;43 on the same track in 1971.

I say this as someone from Illinois who now lives in LA. If you're a distance runner from the Midwest, you tend to either be steeled against just about anything. Obviously not all are like this. But overall, Midwestern runners are a hard-core lot. I sometimes can't believe the people out here--"I can't run on the trail. It just rained!" I took this shoveling-off-the-track-in-the-middle-of-February mentality for granted until I landed here. It does something to you when you're running in 95 degree temps with massive humidity, and four months later you're running with wind chills at -50F. Perhaps no one epitomizes the Midwestern runner better than CV.

couldnt of been said better, thats why nothing but pussies come from the west. The midwest is were the best have come from and will continue to come from.

! wrote:

yes, it was at the U of I armory...interestingly, dave merrick of new lenox lincoln way ran 8;43 on the same track in 1971.

Man, that's just impresssive. That track is *not* fast. I'm surprised they were able to get the class registration tables off the track for long enough to have a meet!

Did Merrick do this in HS on that track?

Ok my two cent worth abou Craig Virgin

All this talk about CV running Track and Field and Cross Country!...that is great....But he was a great road racer to!

You can argue he had one of the greatest three years of running and competing that the world has ever seen between 1979 to 1981. His prime being in 1980.

........During that three year period he accomplished something that may never happen again. By anyone!. He won every major road race at least once. Peachtree, bay to breakers, Falmouth, Cresent City, and Bloomsday Run (and there where more). Who else can make that claim?.......not even the Africans (no individuals)! During his era these where the most competived races in the world!.......there was no USATF road races for Americans or World championships...so everyone was there!......sometimes 30 or 40 deep of the best runners in the world!...and yes sometimes Craig was even little cocky about his chances of winning.....and he won alot.....and dont forget he was running other races during this time to....Olympic trials, World XC, and Tracks events during this time to.....Yes....He raced everyone....he had guts and shy away from no one........maybe he was still a little sour about the boycott!...so he had alot to prove to himself....Hell!....he even tried the Boston Marathon during this time......so he tried it.....he didnt win it.....but he finished second and beat the great Bill Rogers on his own turf!....and running 2:10.30...not bad for his second marathon!....yes...he had done more by the age of 25 then most of todays distance runners combined........so he hung up spikes shorty after......

other notes....some care ....some dont.....I do.....When CV started college he was only 17.....Rono was 24 or 25....to me it was not fair because CV probably would of won a couple more NCAA titles if not for this.....but CV never complained......

...so...I could go on about more of his victories, winning races, and competing in the 1980's but my conclusion is he would of won a medal for sure if not winning the gold!.....

.....his resume is to long.....I didnt even mention his Track and XC accomplishment's during this time.....they have already been mention

.....there will never be justice for the distance runners and other athlete's who sacrifice everything for there country and lively-hood to peek for that Olympic race......consequently Craig Virgin will never get his due and never be a house name like Frank Shorter and Bill Rogers.....I guess sometimes you just have to be lucky and be at the right place and at the right time......

Mr. Virgin had the best chance to win a medal in 1980(if not the GOLD).

Let's look at the facts for this 10,000 meter runner in 1980.

Olympic year 1980.....what would your conclusion be?...HUD?

1. Rated number two in the world 1980....ahead of Rono

2. Had best time in the world 1980....ahead of Yifter

3. Won the World XC championship in 1980!....and 1981(all the best where there!)

Conclusion......He was the "best distance runner to never win an Olympic medal"

My favorite Runners...Virgin, Shorter, Pre, Rynn, and Ritz!

thank you Craig Virgin for the memories.....

malmo: Your stories are priceless. Keep 'em coming! Thanks! Tinnman

mytwocentsagain wrote:

When CV started college he was only 17.....Rono was 24 or 25....to me it was not fair because CV probably would of won a couple more NCAA titles if not for this.....but CV never complained......

Actually CV was at the center of the Washington State versus the traditional collegiate world controversy. In 1976 there were lots and lots of stories in the press about how WSU was bringing in running mercenaries and guys like CV were paying the price. Craig was the poster boy for the negative effects of Chaplin\'s foreign legion. He did complain about the foreign runners at the time in the press. In his shoes I would also have since it cost him a 2nd National Title in XC. In the end though the presence of internationally savvy runners had to have helped him in the long run. And he proved his mettle time and time again against all comers.

It is really hard for me to think of Craig as anything other than the teen prodigy who took on all comers. A runner who didn\'t care if it was 100 degrees or 20 degrees. He just wanted to beat all the guys who lined up against him and if you were willing to challenge him you would be rewarded with a fast pace and a good time. Can\'t believe he turned 50!

The Facts show that CV was robbed of his chance to earn/win one the O-Games medals for sure. His 10k & Mth times still hold up to the USA best even today, 25 years ago!

mytwocentsagain wrote:

Let's look at the facts for this 10,000 meter runner in 1980.

Olympic year 1980.....what would your conclusion be?...HUD?

1. Rated number two in the world 1980....ahead of Rono

2. Had best time in the world 1980....ahead of Yifter

3. Won the World XC championship in 1980!....and 1981(all the best where there!)

Conclusion......He was the "best distance runner to never win an Olympic medal"

My favorite Runners...Virgin, Shorter, Pre, Rynn, and Ritz!

thank you Craig Virgin for the memories.....

Joseph A. McVeigh wrote:

Virgin's 27:39 AR was run at the US champs when he led virtually every step of the way, Herb Lindsay dragging behind him for a while but left behind well before the last lap.

Joe, I realize that this thread is an old one however a correction is due here. Lindsay was not in the 10k when Virgin set his AR, and I don't recall him ever running the 10k at nationals. Lindsay ran the 5k in 1979.

1979 Walnut California

1. Craig Virgin 27:39.4 MRm,ARm

2. Ric Rojas 28:24.2

3. Frank Shorter 28:26.6

4. Robbie Perkins 28:26.8

5. Marc Hunter 28:40.8

6. Tom Wysocki 28:43.8

Mrr82, can't you ever post on a thread that isn't three years old?

Do you people who are posting in response to the old posts ever check the dates on these things?

No one ran against there peers better than CV!

Does CV work, own a business, or self employed?...does anyone know?

Does he have contact number, web site, or email?

thanks if anyone knows?

I came in 2nd in the two mile at the Illinois State meet behind Craig Virgin his senior year. I also was a teammate of Craig's at University of Illinois.

In my opinion, Craig Virgin was absolutely unbeatable @ 10,000 meters during the late 70's and early 80's. He was an incredible athlete and loved to compete. But I believe more than anything his success was due to his off-the-charts confidence and belief that he was the best runner on the starting line on race day.

This confidence could be considered arrogance by many. But I believe it was key to his success. He pushed himself further than anybody I know in races, but to me seeing him before, during, and after races I think he did it because he thought it was impossible for anyone to run faster than him.

Craig also had lungs that extended to his toes and trained as hard as anyone we talk about today, which certainly were essential to his success.

But still I think that many in this sport under estimate the mental aspect. Craig did not carry into a race even a glimmer of uncertainity regardless of who he raced.

Who is Craig Virgin...to me he is honest, confident to a fault (sometimes misread as arrogant), the best distance runner of the early 80's, and somebody who has given more to the sport than he has gotten back in return.

Just look at the number of 2:10-ish marathoners and other luminaries:

1975 NCAA XC at Penn State 6 miles

1 28:23 Virgin IL (13:19/27:29/2:10)

2 28:38 Nick Rose W.Kentucky (GB) (13:18/27:31)

3 28:52 John Ngeno WSU (KEN) (can't remember - but he was FAST)

5 28:58 Paul Stemmer PSU (believe he was 28:30 in college)

6 29:00 James Munyala UTEP (KEN) (Steeple cahmp in NCAA)

7 29:02 Paul Cummings BYU (27:45/2:11)

8 29:03 James Karuki UTEP (KEN)

9 29:05 Dave Merrick Penn (Wasn't this guy about 8:46 in HS?)

10 29:05 Steve Bolt Bama

11 29:06 Paul Bannon Memphis State (?)

12 29:10 Herb Lindsey MSU (28:05 track)

13 29:12 Tony Staynings W.Kentucky (GB)

14 29:12 Josh Kimeto WSU (KEN)

15 29:13 Curt Alitz Army (NCAA 10k winner I think?)

16 29:14 Alex Kasich WVU

17 29:14 George Malley PSU (AR in Steeple, 1:01 1/2, 2:11)

18 29:15 Terry Cotton AZ

19 29:17 Mick O'Shea Prov. (IRE)

20 29:18 Kurt Beckman WSU

21 29:19 John Treacy Prov. (IRE) (13:16/27:47/2:09)

22 29:19 Jeff Wells Rice (28:12/2:10)

23 29:19 Billy Donakowski MI (28:08/2:10)

24 29:22 Lionel Ortega NM (2:13?)

25 29:23 Antonio Zuniga UTEP (MEX)

29 29:30 Gregg Meyer MI (27:53/2:09)

37 29:38 Samson Kimobwa WSU (KEN) (27:30 WR in 10km)

38 29:30 Niall O'Shaughnessy (IRE)

56 29:53 Steve Lacy WI (3:33 1500, 13:25 5k)

57 29:54 Ralph King UNC (sub-4:00, 13:19)

74 30:02 Tom Wysocki NV

77 30:05 Henry Marsh BYU (8:09 AR in Steeple)

84 30:10 Marc Hunter KSU

90 30;14 Ray Flynn ETSU (IRE) (3:33?)

143 30:40 Craig Masback Princeton (3:52 mile)

160 30:47 Chris Fox Auburn (13:21/27:53/2:13)

165 30:49 Bruce Bickford NE (13:13/27:37)

174 30:54 Ron Addison TN (8:22 Steeple)

175 30:54 Matt Centrowitz OR (13:12 AR in 5k)

224 31:30 Kyle Heffner TXA&M (2:10 marathon 1980)

225 31:31 Jon Sinclair CSU (super road racer and AAU XC champ)

266 33:31 Randy Melancon AR

1976 NCAA XC at North Texas State 10k

1 28:06 Henry Rono WSU (KEN)

2 28;16 Samson Kimobwa WSU (KEN)

3 28:26 Craig Virgin IL

...

9 28:49 Rudy Chapa OR (13:19/2:11)

13 28:57 Thom Hunt AZ (AR in road 10k)

....

22 29:10 Bob Hodge Lowell (28:24/2:10)

...

33 29:22 Ron Addison TN

34 29:23 Eric Hulst Irvine

38 29:26 Steve Plascensia MN (27:45/2:12)

41 29:29 Carey Pinkowski Vill.

47 29:36 Kirk Pfeffer CO

51 29:41 Matt Centrowitz OR

55 29:45 Don Clary OR (8:22/13:25)

74 29:51 Ralph Serna Irvine

115 30:09 Dan Schlesinger Yale (2:11?)

132 30:16 Pete Pfitzinger Cornell (2:11?)

169 30:36 Craig Masback Princeton

170 30:37 Randy Jackson WI

171 30:37 Kyle Heffner Tex A&M

182 30:44 Ron Tabb Cent.MO (2:09)

187 30:46 Steve Scott Irvine

203 30:55 Mark Nenow KY[/quote] (AR in 10k - 27:20)

Do you think that any of the guy's placing between 50th and 150th in the NCAA XC meet go on to National records or the Olympics?

Whow the great Jim Eiken, glad to see you coming to Craig's defense. I would prefer to go unknown for personal reasons but he is a very good friend of my family and has been for many years!

I come to his defense as well because I know the man, not just know of him. As an athlete Craig was INTENSE!!!!!!!! His only concern was CRAIG VIRGIN (and rightfully so) and what he needed to do to succeed. His job was to win and/or try to destroy his competition as he saw fit. Confident, self-centered, arrogant etc. etc. probably but that's what it takes to reach the top whether you speak out loud or just play the part. Was he suppose to be buddy buddy with his competition, was he suppose to down play a good performance without letting people understand how hard he worked to accomplish the things he did and how proud he was of those performances. Confident, self-centered, arrogant etc. etc. probably but he did it his way. I am almost positive he isnt losing any sleep over what people think about him. However, he has been black-balled at his alma mater and it has cost him getting the cross country job there. Fact of the matter is Craig says aloud what other people say in their minds. Either people are going to say you talk to much or why dont people speak up and say what they mean. It's a no win situation. For what he accomplished on the track, on the road and on the grass collectively makes him on of the top 3 distance runners ever to lace up in the U.S. , EVER!!!! Personalities don't make the performance and vice versa.