STEPHEN CRAIG

Athlete, North Penn High School, 2002

13 Varsity Letters: 2 Cross Country, 3 Soccer, 4 Indoor Track, 4 Spring Track

2002 INDOOR STATE 800 METER CHAMPION

1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 INDOOR STATE CHAMPION, 4 X 800m RELAY

2001 & 2002 NPHS Indoor Track MVP

National Scholastic Indoor Meet 4X800m Champions 2001 & 2002

Co-Captain of the 2002 PIAA STATE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

2002 PENN RELAYS CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA

DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY CHAMPIONS, School Record 10:17.47

2001, 2002 Penn Relays Championship of America 4 X 800m 1st American Team

1999, 2000 & 2002 PIAA STATE CHAMPIONS 4 X 800m RELAY

Holds North Penn HS 800 meter Record, 1:52.17

NPHS Spring Track MVP 2000, 2001 & 2002

8 Times PTFCA 1st Team All State Track & Field

6 Times National Scholastic Sports Foundation All-America Team

2001 Co-Captain of the NPHS Soccer team

Duke University, Men’s Track and Field, 2002-2006

Duke University, B.A. Public Policy Studies, 2006

INDUCTED 2013

As an athlete at North Penn, Steve earned 13 Varsity letters in Cross Country, Soccer, Winter Track and Spring Track. Steve began his career at North Penn after securing a varsity position on the Soccer Team as a freshman. During the offseason, Steve joined the Winter Track Team fall of freshman year. That season Steve was able to earn a spot on the North Penn 4x800m Relay Team along with Zack Webb, Lee Benedette, and Jim Farrow. That relay team later went on to win the Indoor State Championship (1999). It was after this first season of winter track that Steve became hooked on competitive running.
During Steve’s track and field tenure at North Penn he was proud to be a part of several successful 4x800m Relay teams that went on to win Indoor State Championships in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and Outdoor State Championships in 1999, 2000, 2002.
Steve looks back on the 2002 Penn Relays Distance Medley Relay as one of his favorite races during his HS career. In a last minute team decision to enter the Distance Medley Relay, Coach Swanker submitted the entry form the day of the final cutoff. In a surprise showing, the team of Dan Michael (1200m), Matt Henderson (400m), Adam Thomas (800m), and Steve Craig (1600m) went on to win the Penn Relays Championship of America in a come from behind victory setting a school record of 10:17.47.
Steve’s most memorable athletic accomplishment was participating on the 2002 Outdoor Track and Field Team that went on to win the PIAA State Team Title in 2002. The entire team had strong performances throughout the weekend. Zach Thomas took 4th in the 110M Hurdles, Matt Henderson placed 3rd in the 200m Dash, and all three North Penn relay teams (4x100—3rd (Mike Penn, Zach Thomas, Kevin Zeblium, Matt Henderson), 4x400—3rd, and 4x800—1st (Rick Bennett, Adam Thomas, Dan Michael, Steve Craig) placed in the top three. However, the state title came down to the last relay of the day. North Penn was trailing Cumberland Valley and Altoona by 3 points and needed a 5th place finish or better in the 4x400m to win the team title. In a very tight race, the 4x400m relay team of Steve Craig, Dan Michael, Kevin Akins, and anchor leg Matt Henderson managed to squeeze out a 3rd place finish to secure the team title.
Steve feels very fortunate to have received the guidance and direction from coaches Richard Swanker, Ron Jaros, and Jay Jones who set the foundation for a proud North Penn Track and Field tradition. Without the commitment and hard work of teammates throughout the 1999-2002 seasons the success of the 4x800m relay and the PIAA State Championship Team in 2002 wouldn’t have been possible.
After graduating North Penn High School, Steve went on to Duke University where he continued his track and field career earning All-East Honors. Steve graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies.
Post College, Steve moved to Minneapolis, MN to work for a startup IT company, which later went through a successful IPO and then went on to be acquired by Dell Inc. in 2011. Steve now works as a Sales Executive for Dell in the Mid Atlantic Area.
Steve is the proud husband and father of his beautiful wife Sarah and adorable 9 mos. old son Hayden. Steve and his family currently reside in East Norriton, PA where they spend most of their spare time taking care of their little guy, but enjoy spending downtime with family and friends.