(0:14) Don’t get hooked. (0:15) Be aware of the red flags that may help prevent you from falling for a scam. (0:19) Get the details online at GoFirstBank.com. (0:21) That is GoFirstBank.com. (0:23) Duke Dance and Dal Erikson with you live in studio this morning.

(0:26) And another banner for the Gatorade Boys Cross-Country Runner of the Year (0:31) out of Starbody High School, Colton Cranny joins us in studio today. (0:36) Colton, the accolades just keep coming for you, man. (0:38) Congratulations on the on the recognition and the award.

(0:41) Appreciate you joining us today. (0:42) Yeah, no problem. (0:43) Any any free Gatorade come with that? (0:47) I’ve always kind of wondered.

(0:49) Unfortunately, not. (0:50) Nothing you’ve seen yet, huh? (0:51) Seems to be a no brainer. (0:52) Actually, you’d think that would be like the first thing.

(0:54) Like here’s a year’s supply. (0:55) Something like that. (0:56) At least the pouch is to mix it or something.

(0:58) I don’t know. (0:58) You know, Colton, your coach, Coach Draney, texted me this picture (1:02) just this morning of I’m assuming is a four by eight relay. (1:06) Yeah, I’m sure it was of there’s there’s you, Jace Burton, (1:10) Hobby Wetzel, I believe, Brigham Han.

(1:13) And that’s three Gatorade Runners of the Year in one relay. (1:18) You’ve had some tremendous teammates. (1:20) What what does that mean to you as far as training and learning (1:25) and and just camaraderie in terms of having such such good runners to run with? (1:31) Um, I wouldn’t be where I am today without those guys.

(1:35) They’ve been my role models throughout the year, (1:38) ever since I was a freshman, even an eighth grader. (1:42) And yeah, just striving for the same greatness (1:45) that I think they achieved is pushed me along to achieve the same thing. (1:49) So, you know, and it’s not it’s not just that group.

(1:52) This has been quite the for lack of a better term, quite the run (1:57) for Star Valley High School distance runners over the past decade. (2:01) Right. I actually had a chance to catch up with a Sefa Wetzel.

(2:05) Actually, there’s a throwback name from a couple of years ago. (2:09) And I mean, it really has been year after year, (2:13) after year, after year of distance running just excellence. (2:15) And what is it like to be a part of those types of names that that are? (2:21) I mean, historic, really.

(2:24) Um, it’s it’s an honor. (2:26) And, you know, as much as like, you know, I remember Peter and a Sefa (2:31) like they were giants. (2:33) And it’s cool to just think that, you know, that’s where (2:36) we’re going right now.

(2:38) And that’s how we’ll be remembered. (2:40) I think it’s it’s cool to think about. (2:42) Yeah.

Peter Visser just kind of rewriting some of the Weber State record books (2:46) just went under the four minute mile. (2:49) Yeah. Just a couple of weeks ago.

(2:52) As far as some of your future goals, kind of what are some of the things (2:55) you’d like to accomplish? (2:56) Like, let’s say five years from now, what are what? (2:59) Well, maybe that’s a little long. (3:00) Well, let’s go. (3:02) Let’s go like one year and two years from now.

(3:04) What are some goals you’d like to accomplish between now and then? (3:07) Um, I’d like to, you know, go on a mission (3:11) for the Church of Jesus Christ and then head off to college and compete. (3:18) So, I mean, that’s the plan as of now. (3:22) If you could go to any college at this point, (3:25) you got you got whatever pick you want, where would you be off to? (3:28) I’d love to go to Weber.

Yeah, that’s a. (3:32) Yeah, that’s a dream of mine, a gold mine. (3:34) So and why Weber? (3:37) I think they offer the best balance for me personally. (3:42) And also, it’s just nice having the connections (3:47) to Star Valley that they have.

(3:48) So I’ll fit right in there. (3:50) I was going to say they’ve had obviously Peter’s there right now, (3:53) but they’ve had a lot of runners, Trevor Ricks, (3:59) Colgren, sorry, Wes. (4:00) Yeah, Wes, thank you.

(4:02) There’s there’s been a lot of runners from Star Valley (4:04) that have gone down and run for the Wildcats. (4:07) So as far as that goes, you you’ve obviously maybe had a chance (4:11) to talk to some of those guys and and some of their experiences. (4:15) And you’ve liked it.

(4:16) Mm hmm. Yeah, I was down there on a visit (4:19) beginning of January and they were all there and took me in. (4:22) And it was cool to talk to them (4:24) because I’d never been able to do that before.

(4:26) They were out of high school before I came in. (4:28) So it’s just cool to see them doing their thing and (4:33) maybe be able to envision myself (4:36) being in the same same position. (4:38) Colton Cranny in studio this morning.

(4:40) We’re Colton, you’re you’re coming off the Simplot Games, (4:42) which, of course, is a huge, huge deal, (4:44) getting there ready for a postseason and indoor track. (4:46) How do you how do you feel the season’s gone so far for you up to this point? (4:51) It’s been a it’s been a rocky one for me. (4:53) Just having my wisdom teeth removed at the beginning of the season (4:57) and being sick as of recent.

(5:01) But I mean, I’m happy with the way I’ve taken it and performed thus far. (5:06) And I’m hoping for a big bang at the state. (5:10) The state meet come this next weekend.

(5:12) I was going to say not not this weekend, but next weekend you’ll be in (5:15) in Gillette, which is just right around the corner. (5:18) Oh, yeah. Such a short drive.

(5:22) I’ve always made the joke. (5:23) It’s like a big S, big reverse S you go to get from here to to Gillette. (5:29) But they do have fantastic facilities.

(5:30) You got to give them that. (5:32) But yeah, what maybe what are some (5:35) obviously maybe not just where you want to finish and things like that. (5:39) But what are some goals that you have for for next weekend? (5:42) Is there a time in mind? (5:43) Is there something personal that it’s like, I want to do this next weekend (5:48) and in that venue? (5:50) I’m just considering how my season’s gone.

(5:53) I’m just going to get in the race and compete to the best of my ability. (5:59) You know, whether that ends up being first place or last place, (6:04) I’ll be happy with however it goes. And (6:08) yeah, just looking forward to, (6:12) you know, having a good competition.

That’s what I want. (6:15) And then, of course, you head into the spring and it’ll be your final (6:20) competition season as a high school athlete. Right.

(6:22) Is that what your mindset kind of is that sunk in yet (6:26) that you’ve got a spring season left and that’s it? (6:29) What’s that like for you? (6:30) Yeah, I’ve thought about it a lot. (6:32) And essentially what I’ve come to terms with is just I’m here to have fun. (6:38) It’s the last time I’ll be able to do this in a high school setting.

(6:41) And yeah, just soak it up, have fun with it. (6:45) And usually you run better that way anyway. (6:47) So, you know, I don’t want to assume anything, (6:51) but it looks like, you know, one of the one of my favorite things (6:54) about the track athletes for start early high school is how tough they are.

(6:59) Cross-country runners and track athletes. (7:01) And one of the things that you guys are kind of latched on to is (7:04) you call yourself the Planet Hoth track and field team. (7:09) For those of you who aren’t nerds, (7:11) Planet Hoth is the winter ice planet on Star Wars.

(7:14) So, yeah, it’s like that. (7:16) But Colton, this year’s totally different. (7:20) I know it.

Do you feel like you’re going to do is that is that going to impact (7:24) how you how how you kind of roll into the outdoor season? (7:28) I think it’ll be awesome because the track is clear. (7:31) And usually we’re shoveling that for the first little while. (7:34) So I drove by the other night.

(7:37) They were out playing soccer. (7:38) And I remember that year that they couldn’t use the bleachers (7:41) the whole season because there was so much snow on it. (7:43) And so it was ice, a solid chunk of ice on the bleachers.

(7:46) And then the Dave Draney invite, they were out there chipping ice off the track. (7:49) And yeah, not this year. (7:51) No, no, no.

(7:51) I think it was probably your freshman or sophomore year. (7:55) The snow was so deep on the sides. (7:58) You guys sat up on chairs.

(8:00) I remember this picture. (8:01) You sat up on chairs and we’re looking down on the track. (8:05) Yeah, and that’s what the picture was, was.

(8:08) And I just thought there’s not very many places doing this. (8:11) But yeah, it’ll be totally different. (8:13) No shoveling.

No shoveling. (8:15) You guys are going to get so spoiled. (8:17) Coach Draney’s like, I got to come up with something else to.

(8:19) All right. (8:20) So now when we have a historic blizzard in March, we know it’s Dow’s fault (8:24) because he set us up for it. (8:26) Now, I’m sorry.

Yeah. (8:29) Well, Colton, it’s always a pleasure to catch up with you. (8:32) I know we ask you this question every time you come in, but I think it is (8:35) when you when you look at someone that’s had the career that you’ve had (8:38) and has has been able to accomplish the things you’ve accomplished.

(8:41) What is your advice to the the up and coming next generation (8:44) of of distance runners at Starbody High School? (8:48) You know, I think (8:50) just keep looking up, keep being consistent. (8:53) That’s something that Coach Draney does really well with (8:56) teaching us, just showing up every day. (9:00) And that’s it.

That’s what’s important. (9:01) And that’s where the results come. (9:03) Um, get those summer miles in.

(9:06) They’re important. (9:07) That’s why that’s what my problem is now. (9:09) I’m not doing the summer miles, man.

(9:11) My summer miles are way down. (9:13) They’re way down. (9:15) Colton, it’s always a pleasure.

(9:17) Anything else you’d like to mention, not only about what you’ve done, (9:20) but maybe the team aspect as well of the indoor track season (9:23) that you’d like to maybe wrap things up here with? (9:25) You know, I think as a team, (9:27) we’re doing really good. (9:29) I think more so than previous years, just being a team, being brothers. (9:35) I think the friendships just internally that we have are very strong.

(9:40) And obviously, you’re not much of a team if just a bunch of individuals. (9:44) So I think that’s that’s been great this year. (9:46) And, uh, yeah, kudos to Coach Draney.

(9:50) You know, I was I was reading Dal’s article (9:54) about the indoor team in this week’s newspaper and Coach Draney’s comments (9:57) about coming off the Simplot games and how that’s kind of a measuring stick (10:01) for where things are at and trying to position the team (10:04) to get ready for the state event and the culminating event (10:07) at the end of the year as a player. (10:09) What is that like? (10:09) Because the coaches are obviously working with a whole chessboard. (10:12) What is it like to be one of the pieces on that board? (10:15) Oh, it’s just it’s an honor.

(10:17) And yeah, I mean, there’s a whole team to choose from. (10:21) And, you know, just the fact to be able to go and be one of those players (10:25) or runners that the coaches think are (10:29) valuable enough to be there is it’s a big opportunity (10:32) and something I feel proud about. (10:34) And yeah, Colton Cranney, Gatorade boys cross country runner of the year (10:39) for the state of Wyoming.

(10:40) Colton, appreciate your time, as always. Thank you. (10:42) It’s all part of first make of Wyoming Sports Friday this morning (10:44) on the SBI radio network.