Carr, Griffin fuel Warriors' bid for 3rd straight title

DES MOINES -- The next proverbial baton exchange is about to be made.

There was Keenan Davis. Then Ronnie Henderson. Now, Alex Carr is set to hand off to Will Griffin, the next in line of talented sprinters at Cedar Rapids Washington.

The Warriors pursue their third consecutive Class 4A boys' track and field championship this weekend at Drake Stadium. Their sprinters give them a shot.

"It's going to be tougher this year," Carr said. "But we're never going to back down from a challenge. I still feel we're the team to beat."

With Carr (a senior) and Griffin (a junior), the Warriors still have speed aplenty. Both qualified in the 100-meter dash, and both will run on the 400- and 800-meter relays. Griffin also will compete in the 200; Carr will run the 400-meter leg of the medley relay.

They'll be pushed. Hard.

"There are going to be a lot of fast kids," Griffin said. "(James) Harrington (of Cedar Falls), he's really fast. The sprint relays, those are going to be ridiculous."

Griffin and Carr have been 1-2 in a lot of races all spring, most of which have been extremely close. But by all accounts, there is nothing but good feelings between the two.

"Alex is definitely a role model for me," Griffin said. "I go to him a lot for advice. He's been helping me a lot about football, about track, about life.

"He's like a big brother to me."

Carr said, "Will and me ... we've never been in any kind of argument. I like him a lot. He's a humble kid who has no idea how talented he is. You don't need to push Will in practice. He just needs to develop a killer instinct."

Griffin has another name for it.

"Relentless pursuit," he said. "That's what you need in track, and that's what you need in football."

That's what helped Griffin upgrade his body since last year.

"Last year, I was 185 pounds and a little on the chubby side," he said, disclosing that he has lost body fat and gained muscle -- he's now 5-foot-9 with a muscular 195-pound frame.

It's that body that possibly will replace Carr as the featured tailback for the Washington football program next year. Carr rushed for 1,687 yards and 23 touchdowns last fall and was named SourceMedia News' offensive player of the year.

Carr is talented, competitive and driven.

"I would like to think I'm one of the hardest workers on our team," he said. "There's that saying -- 'Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.'

"But what happens when talent does work hard?"

Carr also is outgoing and talkative. He doesn't shy from the spotlight, though he says he doesn't crave it.

"I'm not that crazy about it, but I try to embrace it and use it to my advantage in positive ways," he said.

And while Griffin returns next year, Carr will head to the University of Northern Iowa in the fall to play football.

He won't compete in track right away, but hopes to join the program at some point.

"I know I'll miss it. I love track," Carr said. "They say it's hard for a freshman to live on his own and compete in two sports, so I don't think I'll do it as a freshman. Hopefully in the future, it's something I can pursue."