Central College Athletics

Craig Cantrall '94
Men's track and field

Cantrall captured Central's first track and field national championship, a number that has since grown to 20. He leaped 6 feet, 11 inches in taking the 1994 crown after previously earning all-America distinction by placing third in 1992 and fourth in 1993 and finishing sixth in the 1994 indoor meet. He was a four-time national outdoor meet qualifier and two-time indoor qualifier.

Originally from West Bend, Iowa, Cantrall was also a nine-time Iowa Conference outdoor meet place winner and three-time indoor place winner, winning four straight outdoor high jump titles as well as the 1994 indoor crown. He helped the Dutch claim four consecutive league outdoor team championships as well.

His 1992 leap of 7-0.75 broke the conference meet record and he cleared 7-1.5 in 1993 to set a school mark that still stands.

Also a classroom standout, Cantrall was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 1994. He received a doctoral degree in physical therapy at Creighton University, served as a physical therapist in Centerville from 1997-2008 and was also director of rehabilitation services at Mercy Medical Center there from 2006-08. He's now a physical therapist at Spencer Hospital in Spencer.

Cantrall is involved in children's and youth ministry in Spencer and serves as an AWANA commander as well as an adult class instructor. He's also a youth sports volunteer in basketball, soccer, football and baseball.

Cantrall and his wife Miriam have four sons: Cameron, Caleb, Cole and Collin.