A junior at East St. Louis, Appleton stands 6-foot-3, weighs 200 pounds and possesses a rare combination of power and blazing speed.
"Kraig is just an outstanding athlete who is being heavily recruited by several NCAA Division I and major universities," East St. Louis track and field coach Roscoe Whitfield said. "His athletic ability in football and in track and field are just two of the sports in which we know he excels. He could play baseball or basketball as well.
"Kraig could probably do anything but swim. He works at a swimming pool in the summer with me, so I know about that."
While Appleton will never be compared to Mark Spitz in the pool, he is perhaps the top combination athlete in track and field and football in the St. Louis area. The defending Class AA state champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, Appleton is regarded as one of the nation's top prep wide receivers.
Michigan, Ohio State, Arkansas and Illinois are just four of the schools heavily recruiting Appleton, who caught 38 passes for 850 yards and seven touchdowns for the Flyers.
And while Appleton has a passion for sports, his No. 1 love is his mom -- Donna Appleton.
"My mom is my heart and I'm just really worried about what she might think. So I just do what I can so I don't put that kind of pressure on her," Appleton said. "I Just want her here with me. That's all."
One person who knows of the closeness between Kraig and Donna Appleton is Whitfield, who has been around the Flyers star since he was a freshman.
"His life is his mom. There isn't anything he won't do for his mother," Whitfield said. "Even when he has difficulty understanding something or I have a problem with him, all I have to do is call Mom. He's just a very nice, respectable young man.
"Any college who ends up with Kraig Appleton is going to have an athlete who will be an asset to their program."
Appleton burst upon the state track and field scene a year ago when he survived stumbling over one of the hurdles to win the state championship in the 300 hurdles in 37.57 seconds.
Whitfield has added the 110 high hurdles to Appleton's agenda this spring. He also runs on the Flyers' 800 relay and could be in another open event or another relay when the Class AA Belleville East Sectional is held May 16.
"I was a little shocked when coach (Whitfield) mentioned to me about running them," Appleton said. "The 110 high hurdles are tougher for me because I really haven't even practiced on them that much. I just need more work. I have to work on them harder.
"I am hoping to win both of them -- the 110- and 300-meter hurdles this year and next year."
Although Appleton is stronger and faster this year, he said his real edge in the 300 hurdles is a mental one. He added that he feels no pressure to repeat as state champion.
"No pressure at all," Appleton said. "I'm the best and I feel that I can't be beat. I will not be beat. I will be the state champion in the 300 hurdles again. "I just feel that I've got the game. I've got it mentally and when you've got it mentally, sometimes it helps you be the strongest and the fastest person."
Appleton is also very appreciative for what his coaches at East St. Louis have done for him.
"The coaches here are awesome. I wouldn't want to be at any other school," Appleton said. "They train with you and they teach us that you have to be disciplined both on and off the track.
"They are coaches, but they are also fathers at the same time and I pretty much appreciate everything they've done for me."
In addition to his goal of winning two state titles in the hurdles, Appleton also thinks the Flyers have a great chance of winning the team title at state.
"The difference from this team to the one from last year is that we've got more heart. We have more desire to win. We just need to go out and do what we can to win," Appleton said. "Our goal is to win the state championship and we will win it."
Contact reporter Dean Criddle at 239-2665 or dcriddle@bnd.com.
