Argyle junior Kristie Krueger admits that her friends and family aren’t exactly fans of her intense workout routine – one that hasn’t allowed her more than a week off since the end of the cross country season.

            “Quite a few people have told me that it’s not a good idea because they think that I’ll get injured or that I’ll over train or get burnt out,” Krueger said. “I am aware that the threat for that happening is there, but at the same time, I saw what it was doing for other successful runners and I knew I needed to do the same if I wanted to get better.”

            There isn’t much to argue with. Krueger was named to the Dallas Morning News’ 2007 All-Area Track and Field Team. At state, she set Class 3A meet records while winning the 3200-meter run (10:41.83) and the 1600 (4:57.43). Immediately following the meet, she won the Congress Avenue Mile Run in Austin.

            And she’s even increased her training since state. She’s currently training for the Nike Outdoor Nationals – to be held on June 14.

            “After Nike I might take some time off,” Krueger laughed. “It’s funny, though, because everyone who has told me that this wasn’t a good idea has stopped.”

            Krueger said much of her motivation came from the fact she knew she had a better chance of competing at a collegiate level in track rather than anything else. Remember, this is the same girl who helped lead the Eagles’ basketball team to a Class 2A state title in 2006. She opted to leave that program behind this year to focus on track.

            “I’ve played basketball since elementary school and track was always something that I did on the side and cross country was something I did in order to train for the basketball season,” Krueger said. “But over time I really saw that I was better at track than I was at basketball. I also saw myself going further, so that’s why I knew in order to be an elite runner, I had to do something different with my routine.”

            Despite what some people might think of her controversial training methods, Krueger said she was smart enough to work under the close eye of a trainer. Terry Jessup, who is a coach for the Metroplex Striders, has worked closely with Krueger to ensure she doesn’t hurt herself. Krueger also stressed that she has total faith in Argyle coach Katherine Olson – who she claims is the best coach she could ever ask for.

            “Anything she can do to help me be successful, coach Olson is going to find a way to do,” Krueger said.

            At state, Krueger said she didn’t even focus on the records. Instead, she just tried to run her race. At the Congress Ave. race, she came in as the favorite despite not even finishing in the top 10 at the same race one year earlier.

            “It doesn’t seem real considering how far away I was from all this last year,” Krueger said. “I have no runners in my family, so this is something new for all of us. I just want to keep getting better.”