Photo by Brandon Miles of https://va.milesplit.com
Winning a Foot Locker Nationals cross country title on Saturday would not be that big of a deal for Sandburg (IL) sophomore Lukas Verzbicas. After all, Verzbicas has already the title of World Champion this fall when he claimed the World Dualthon Junior title in late September. The young distance running phenom has followed a much different path to San Diego than all of the other 39 boys qualifiers, but there is no disputing the results as Verzbicas enters as the Midwest Regional champion and one of the race favorites along with NXN individual champion Craig Lutz of Texas. The only thing which kept Verzbicas from racing Lutz and the other top ranked harriers in Portland last weekend were a few nagging injuries which slowed him down from a course record attempt in the Illinois State Meet and withdrawing from competing in the NXN Midwest Regional. Healthy now, Verzbicas is ready to storm through Balboa Park (40% chance of showers on race day) similar to his jaw dropping 14:18 high school national record indoor 5K performance as a freshmen last March at Nike Indoor.
Interview with Lukas Verzbicas
MileSplit US: Congratulations on an undefeated season heading into the Foot Locker Nationals. How is your confidence, health, and training been heading into this weekend?
Lukas Verzbicas: Not counting the blisters on my feet, everything is currently going great.
MileSplit US: You have really not had to face major competition against some of the top ranked runners nationally this season and have raced sparingly. Would you have preferred to have been tested more before San Diego or does this not bother you?
(Photo right by Paul Everrett of https://mo.milesplit.com)
Verzbicas: I had a normal triathlon season, I had those testing me in the Duathlon World Championship, and I will test myself at Foot Locker.
MileSplit US: How differently was your season structure than a normal high school runner considering you were preparing for the World Duathlon Championships in the mid season?
Verzbicas: Truly it is not easy to be in my situation. The school has their own cross country season and I come in and have to miss many races because of multi sport training, plus there are high school rules that someone has to overcome and others that have to accept them. I am very happy at Sandburg High School, its cross country coach and its athletic director who understand my situation and help me the best they can. I did not have this my freshman year at my previous high school.
MileSplit US: What benefits do you see out of your duathlon training to translate into your cross country racing and fitness as well as overall in making you a better runner?
Verzbicas: Benefits which I see from my triathlon training are mainly swimming. Almost every time after I run, I swim for around 90 minutes. This helps me in recovery for my legs as well as well as improving my endurance. While swimming I complete both aerobic and anaerobic work, this way I can run at higher heart rate zones during training. My body has gotten used to it now and its working for me.
(Photo left by Chris Auckley of https://mo.milesplit.com)
MileSplit US: I don't know if you got an opportunity to watch the webcast or replay video of NXN, but if so what did you think of the race performance by Craig Lutz?
Verzbicas: Yes I watched the NXN championships. I would like to congratulate Craig for the win. I wish I was there running with him.
MileSplit US: What was the deciding factors for you opt to compete in Foot Locker only and not NXN?
Verzbicas: In my plans, I was going to race both, but before state I was just able to do five light workouts because of injury, and after state I had to take a week off to let my achilles heal. The cause for my injury was getting into only running too quickly and putting too much stress on my legs by just running.
(Photo right by Matt Shaukus of https://nj.milesplit.com)
MileSplit US: You chased after history last month in attempting to take down Craig Virgin's long standing course record at Detweiler Park in the Illinois State Meet, but ultimately fell short after winning your first state cross country title. How much of a goal is that for you in the next two years to try to cement yourself as one of the all-time greats from the state of Illinois and take down Virgin's record of 13:50?
Verzbicas: My goal was to take the record down this year, but because of my injury I had to miss lots of training causing me to not be in as good of shape as I should have been. If everything is okay with my legs next year, then I believe I will take down the record next year. I was really honored to meet Craig Virgin and his support for me drives me to get a step higher than he was.
MileSplit US: Obviously you have bursted onto the national scene at a very young age with your national titles and 5K indoor national record last year. Lots of expectations and pressure come with that early success, but how do you deal with it in a positive way?
Verzbicas: My parents (coaches) are against early specialization in sports, and in every way they are trying to get me down on the ground so I am just a normal 16 year old. By their philosophy they are trying not to force me and want to see me in the big scene of sports in the future.
MileSplit US: When you set the high school national indoor record in the 5K last March breaking Solomon Haile's only a few hours old record, did you start thinking then about this fall and prospects of winning Foot Locker Nationals since you had bested the time of the current Foot Locker champ? If not, when did you start seriously thinking about the goal?
(Photo right by Brandon Miles of https://va.milesplit.com)
Verzbicas: My win at Nike Indoor Nationals is not a a big deal, it was just something I was able to achieve with the training I had done over winter. Just at the beginning of cross country season I set the goal to race both NXN and Foot Locker. I was forced to complete just one of the races and it turned out to be Foot Locker.
MileSplit US: What is your mentality heading into the national race. Is it a win or bust attitude? Or would you be content with just a high finish?
Verzbicas: I would like to win Foot Locker and just close the page on this cross country season.
MileSplit US: What are you looking forward to most in San Diego?
Verzbicas: I am looking forward mostly to crossing the finish line. my goal is to do it in first.
