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Courtesy of Radford University

In back-to-back weekends this month, Radford University senior Lori Crotts set school indoor records — first in the 3,000 meters before earning the 5,000-meter record Valentine's Day weekend.

| Chuck Altizer

Special to The Roanoke Times

For a runner on a track, a race can be similar to a NASCAR race.

One has to accelerate out of the turns and decelerate going into them, much like a car.

Folks in rural Craig County, where NASCAR is a popular sport, know racing very well and cheer for their favorite driver.

But unlike on the well-known racing circuit, when it comes to track and field, they have one favorite runner in Radford University senior Lori Crotts.

"Everyone back at home tells me how really proud they are of me," Crotts said.

"My parents save all the news stories and the folks back home want to read about it and it feels good to represent them."

And represent them she has.

Crotts in back-to-back weekends this month setschool indoor records -- first in the 3,000 meters before earning the 5,000-meter record Valentine's Day weekend.

"It has been going really good for me so far this year," she said. "Training has been really good, and since this is my senior season you want to do good things."

Even more so when one misses most of their junior season, when a lingering quad injury cost Crotts most of the indoor season and all of the outdoor season a year ago.

She came back for cross-country this season, and finished second at a Virginia Tech event that earned her conference runner of the week.

But her health almost derailed her again right before the conference meet, in which she finished fifth.

"She was starting to get back during the cross-country season and dang if she didn't get the [H1N1] swine flu and missed the whole week of training before the conference championship," said Brent Chumbley, director of track and field and cross-country.

"If we can keep her healthy, those times will keep dropping and dropping. But no matter what, she goes out and runs hard for us."

Sean Bossman, Radford University volunteer assistant track and field coach, said it is Crotts' work ethic that allows her to continue to bounce back.

"She keeps working no matter what the situation is and does everything I ask," he said. "We are just now seeing her potential."

In her 17:40.07 record-setting performance at the Akron Open, Crotts gave everyone optimism -- not only for the conference meet, but also for the outdoor season because of the difference in the tracks.

In indoor, the tracks are smaller and Bossman compared them to the smaller tracks in racing, while the outdoor tracks are more like superspeedways that make times faster.

With Crotts less than 10 seconds away from the outdoor 5000-meter record at Radford, there is a good chance she will own that record as well.

"In indoor, you have to run around 25 laps, where outdoor it is around 12. So when you cut down on the number of turns, it cuts down time," Bossman said.

"She has a chance to do some good things because each weekend she wants to improve on these times and keeps learning every time out -- she is capable of running against anyone in the country."

Crotts is hoping to reach her times and make running enjoyable.

"To make it to the [NCAA] regional will be a perfect season, but to reach all my times will be great," she said.

"I have enjoyed running since I got into it in the eighth grade and stuck with it since I got more successful.

"I think I will always be running even after my career is over -- it is a big stress reliever."