This fall, he rushed for 1422 yards. Averaging 6.5 yards per carry and 118 yards per game, he scored 22 times for the Richland High School football team. He added another 600 all-purpose yards, six receiving touchdowns, two fumble recovery touchdowns, and two pick-sixes for a total of 32 touchdowns on the season.
And this weekend, he made his indoor track and field debut. He put his All-State speed to good-use and burst to a PA #1 and a US Top-20.
Who is he? Evan McCracken.
Track and field fans may remember him from the 2022 outdoor track and field season. In his sophomore year, he broke through and finished fourth in the state amongst the PIAA 2A boys.
So perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise to see him fly out of the blocks, but it was. His competition matched his explosiveness off the line, but his top-end speed shined down the stretch. He moved into the lead near the halfway mark, and his gait remained steady through to the finish.
The result was a 6.93 60m dash - and one of the fastest indoor debuts we've ever seen. It is also ranked as the third fastest-time in the nation by a junior this season.
Usually a two-season athlete, McCracken received some influence from his friends and coaches to try the Indoor circuit. His ultimate motivation, however, is to improve for the outdoor season.
"You know, I want to get better at track and get faster, so why not try some indoor," McCracken told MileSplit's Phil Grove.
And when asked if he liked his experience indoors, his answer was short but astute.
"I like it; it's fun. Cool atmosphere; nothing like it. I'll probably come back for more."
As track and field fans, that is precisely what we want to hear. When the best athletes fall in love with the sport, we benefit. And McCracken seems ready to take his crack at the Indoor Track and Field season.
