Boys cross country: Croeni plots a course for a state championship

It has been a strange trip to becoming one of the fastest cross country runners in the state for Washougal’s Dylan Croeni.

First, he had to get off the golf course. Then, he ended up with a decent showing at a famous local race. And at times, he has found himself training on a slow boat to Mexico.

Croeni does not mind running in circles, especially if the circle is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

RUNNERS TO WATCH

Dylan Croeni, sr., Washougal; Preston Bahr, sr., Heritage; Markus Duhamel, sr., Columbia River; Roman Kirkov, jr., Union; Brad Usselman, so., Skyview; Colby Gilbert, so., Skyview; Andrew Kaler, so., Camas; Connor Niemi, jr., Mountain View.

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

Skyview is looking to repeat as league and district champion, but Union and Battle Ground will look to challenge the Storm. Camas, Columbia River and Kelso will battle for the 3A GSHL championship. Washougal is solid in front with Croeni and Sean Eustis, but the Panthers will need to improve to challenge Mark Morris in the 2A GSHL. La Center is ranked fourth in Class 1A and will challenge for the district title.

He is a cruiser, loves the cruise industry so much, in fact, that his dream is to become a captain of a cruise ship. That’s probably a unique career goal among athletes in Clark County.

“I love it. It’s the best time in the world,” said Croeni, who has been on five cruises, including two this summer. The same two, in fact, because he and his father had such a great time going to Mexico.

“I love ships. I love everything about them. Everything on board is all I need,” Croeni explained. “I’m a social guy. I meet new friends every time. There are dances. There’s the wind. You’re cruising, and going places, and seeing the world.”

While cruising, he trains on the ship’s track or in the fitness facility, dreaming of cruisin’ on the cross country courses. Wearing a shell necklace he bought in Mexico and only takes off for the races, Croeni explained that while his long-term goal is to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York, his athletic goals need to be pursued now, his senior year at Washougal.

It just took him some time to figure out his athletic calling.

The fall of his freshman year, Croeni was walking, slowly, carrying a golf bag for the Panthers.

“I thought golf was my thing,” he said.

That spring, he went out for the track and field team. He remembers trying the mile and thinking there was no way he was a runner. But then he switched to the 2-mile run, and it seemed to get easier, as if it were a better fit.

“It’s funny to look back to where I was at,” Croeni said.

So as a sophomore, the golf clubs went back in the closet, and Croeni began his cross country career. At the famous Run-A-Ree event hosted by Hudson’s Bay, Croeni finished first among the Washougal athletes.

“After that I realized I was a runner and took it from there,” he said.

Well, yes and no. Croeni knew that running would be his best sport, but he acknowledged that at first he did not train every single day. The sport did not consume him like it does now.

That passion would come after last season’s state meet. Croeni exceeded his own expectations, finishing fourth at the Class 2A championships.

“It pushed me more. If I was supposed to get 30th place, based on times, and I got fourth, what if I could put more focus into it,” Croeni wondered.

That revelation turned Croeni into an everyday runner.

“I wouldn’t go to sleep without running,” he said.

Even on busy days, when daylight turned to night, he found a way. He even ran in circles on his residential street when it was too dark to go running through town.

“That’s how motivated and dedicated I am,” he said.

It might seem boring, the running-in-circles thing. But like many runners, he had his music in his ears.

Of course, he is not allowed to listen to music during races. So he runs to a different kind of beat.

“Hearing 100, 200 people behind you, I like the sound of that,” he said with a smile. “You can hear them all behind you and then I’m pumped up and I’m freaking out and I’m going to go for it.”

Earlier this month, and two years after being the best runner on his team at the Run-A-Ree, Croeni was the fastest runner in the event. He clocked in on the 5K path at 15 minutes, 41 seconds — the course record. He also broke his own school record by 32 seconds.

“I was like, ‘Whoa’ when I saw that time, when I crossed the finish line,” Croeni said. “I crushed it.”

So now he is dreaming of a state championship come November. But he also wants to improve his leadership skills. He wants to be a captain of a cruise ship one day, but for now he will settle for being a captain of the Panthers.

He said he enjoys motivating teammates, especially those who are new to the sport.

“Everyone in different, everyone’s body is different. You might not be one of the best runners on the team, but you can compete as much as me,” Croeni said. “When you cross that line, you should have no regrets. Do the best you can, that day, right then.”

His favorite quote comes from legendary runner Alberto Salazar: “I’d rather run a gutsy race, pushing all the way and lose, than run a conservative, easy race only for a win.”

Croeni would not mind being legendary, too, at least for Washougal.

“I would love to win state. Nobody knows where Washougal is, really,” Croeni said. “That would be pretty cool, to do something like that.”

Almost as cool as guiding a massive cruise ship out into the open seas.

Croeni knows if he puts his mind into it, he can accomplish his goals. As any runner can tell you, it is all about dedication and motivation.