During Omar Craddock’s freshman year, he earned All-America honors after the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. He also finished third at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship, along with placing second at the SEC Outdoor Championship for the triple jump.
His sophomore year he was a first team All-American after his fifth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championship, and Craddock once again came in third at the SEC Indoor Championship.
Despite his strong start to his career at UF, not many noticed.
Craddock spent his first two years as a Gator in the shadows of his teammates Christian Taylor and Will Claye. This year the junior is taking a huge jump out of these shadows.
“Now when I’m at practice I don’t have to hear ‘Just shoot for third or shoot for second.’ Instead it’s kind of like ‘You the man, you got to come out and do it,’” Craddock said.
After two years, it’s Craddock’s time in the spotlight.
Last month, he left Kentucky with his first SEC Indoor title after a then season best jump of 16.44m/53-11.25. Craddock’s first place performance didn’t end there.
At the NCAA Indoor Championship last week, Craddock set a new personal record of 16.75m/54-11.50. Craddock’s new personal record led to him his first NCAA title.
“I was actually nervous, I will admit, because it was a national meet,” Craddock said. “I wasn’t number one at the time, but knowing how I fight, other jumpers knew what I could do, and that’s the part that made me nervous. People were expecting huge jumps, 55, 56, and I thought if I don’t produce that, they’re going to talk about me.”
Craddock’s performance did get people talking though. After winning the SEC and NCAA Championships, and being ranked third overall in the nation, the target on his back is starting to grow.
However, between the outdoor season starting for Florida next weekend with the UCF Invitational and preparing for the U.S Olympic Team trials, Craddock will be focusing his time on improving instead of worrying about the competition.
“I feel like I’m a bit faster, and I’m a bit more technically sound,” Craddock said. “I had a tough Indoor, but I’m going to get healthy now and continue my quest onto the Olympic Team,” Craddock said.
Now that Craddock is no longer under Taylor and Claye, he feeling some pressure to show everyone that he can be number one. However, Craddock said that despite the pressure, it’s great to be out of their shadows.
“Being behind Will and Christian took a toll on me, but it was all worth it,” Craddock said. “It made me fight when they were here, and I’m still fighting now just to be on top.”
