Senior Ethan Zuber led the sixth-ranked Ankeny boys’ cross country team to a runner-up finish in the Eastern Iowa Classic on Thursday at the Seminole Valley Park cross country course in Cedar Rapids. The Hawks posted a total of 72 points, finishing six points behind No. 8 Iowa City High.
Zuber, the defending Class 4A state champion, pulled away from the field to win the 5K race in a time of 15 minutes 14 seconds. It was his second victory of the season and the 10th of his career.
Zuber is No. 1 in the Class 4A individual rankings released today by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.
Here is some inside info on Zuber:
Congratulations on your win over at Cedar Rapids. What did you think of that course?
It was a really nice course, and it went perfect with the early fall day we had. All the repeated sections were perfect for cheering on teammates, and I think that really helped our varsity team perform.
At what point in the race did you start pulling away from the field?
At about 1.5 miles in, I began to pull away from the field. Moustafa (Tiea of Iowa City West) went out fast with me, but the gap started to separate around that mark.
What did you think of your team’s performance?
I think the team performed really well. I was super excited to see (Nicholas) Robie and Justice (Rathje) battle it out at the end. Both of those guys looked super strong. Tate (Brownsberger) also had a great performance. He closed the final stretch really well and caught a ton of competitors.
You have now won nine of 13 races over the last two seasons. What do you think has been the biggest reason for your success?
I think the biggest reason for my success so far has just been competing every race and every practice. Over time the consistency has built up and led to good performances.
You finished about 6 seconds ahead of Cedar Falls’ Jaden Merrick in last year’s state meet, but Merrick won a rematch earlier this month in the Bobcat Invitational at Marshalltown, where he passed you in the final meter to win the race. What did you learn that day?
Losing that race was a reminder to not cut corners and to rest at the end–not in the middle. What I mean by this was I should have sprinted through the line all the way, but instead I slowed up just enough to let Merrick beat me. He ran a very tactical race and executed it well, but at the end of the race it was my negligence that let him get the win.
Merrick posted a time of 14 minutes 40 seconds while you were clocked in 14:40.1, and those were the two fastest times ever recorded in Iowa. I know you run to win and not for a specific time, but did it seem like you were running that fast?
I really had no idea how fast we were running. I don’t wear a watch when I run so I don’t have a great way of tracking it during a race. But the time isn’t too surprising when I think about how me and Merrick battled it out that entire race. I can see how we ended up clocking such fast times by competing the way we did.
Your teammate, Isaiah Smith, is currently ranked 13th and placed fourth in Thursday’s race, finishing just 21 seconds behind you. How much does it help you to have him pushing you in both practices and meets?
Ike really has been one of the best teammates I have ever had. The guy is always looking to do more to push himself, so we think a lot alike. It leads to both of us really getting after it and comparing all parts of our performances. This takes just normal training to the next level when you’re comparing recovery, sleep, nutrition, lifts, etc. Honestly, I don’t think we go a practice without getting in each other’s face a little bit.
Your team has just two more meets left before the championship season begins. Is there anything specific that you need to work on in these next two races to get ready for the challenges ahead?
I think our team is in a great spot rolling into championship racing season. All of our guys are coming in strong, and their training is set up so that we really come together down the stretch. For myself, I know I just need to do what I do and stick to the basics, which is do everything I can from a training standpoint. And know going into a race that if you want to win, you’ve just got to out-hurt the kid next to you.
I know your goal is to defend your state title. Is there anyone other than Merrick that you think is a serious contender?
I do think that this year’s state meet will boil down to me and Merrick, although I learned from last year not to count anyone out. So I will prepare for anyone to have a good day and show out come Nov. 1.
I’m sure the goal for the team is to bring home another trophy after placing third a year ago. Do you think you guys can contend for the crown?
I think that a podium finish is a very achievable goal. How I see my guys coming around this back half of the season definitely would land us on the podium, and that would be great.
Where are you at in the recruiting process? Do you have a lot of offers, and have you visited some schools?
The recruiting process has been going well. I’m definitely getting the schools I’m considering down to the last few. I have only taken one official visit and have one more during the season, but they tend to be a bit much and threw off the school and training routine so I’m trying to push the rest back until November/December. I’m not quite sure where I see myself landing yet, but wherever I go I’m looking forward to starting off at the bottom of the lineup again.