All eyes on Lukas Verzbicas
Chicago resident Lukas Verzbicas just recorded a stunning 8:29:46 new High School record for the 2-mile distance at the Prefontane Classic, a time that will most likely stand for quite a while. But before the speedy runner competes on the track for the University of Oregon this fall, the Lithuanian born Verzbicas has some unfinished business in triathlon to take care of.
Slowtwitch: Thanks a bunch for your time Lukas.
Lukas: No problem, triathlon has always been my first sport.
ST: The 8:29:46 time you ran for the 2 miles at the Prefontaine Classic is a very impressive new High School record but that is a time you apparently thought was doable. So no surprises here?
Lukas: It was the exact time I was planning. Precision clockwork was achieved all before the race even began, all I needed to do was go out and execute. Setting a goal time is the first step in a record assault. I knew in my mind I had it the whole time, belief in oneself is a very powerful tool in my opinion.
ST: Experts think that record is here to stay and some even used the term forever. Are the experts on to something here?
Lukas: I really hope so. It’s a very big honor to get inducted into the high school record books; it would mean so much more to stay in them for a while. Future high school runners seem to be at another level from the past generations and are very capable of running faster, but I don’t know just how much faster they will run.
ST: What has been your fastest 10k run split and when and where did you run it?
Lukas: Never raced anything over an 8k.
ST: We assume you watched or at least followed the ITU race in Madrid this past weekend and noticed the 30:04 time of Alistair Brownlee on a course that appears to be relatively difficult but correct in distance. Your thoughts?
Lukas: The Brownlees seem to be as dominating as Usain Bolt is in sprinting. I was always motivated to be the one who brings them down, but now someone else will have to do it. No one is unbeatable. They can run very fast, but that’s among other triathletes. I don’t think time means much in a triathlon, it is so much more about winning than any time which is what I enjoy most about it.
ST: Are there any Juniors coming through the US triathlon program that in your view have the potential to challenge the Brownlees and other athletes along those lines?
Lukas: I strongly believe that Kevin McDowell will be the best triathlete in the world once he puts in a few years of the right kind of training and racing. Same goes for two more of my team mates Kelly Whitley and Jennifer Howland.
ST: Word has it that you will be focusing on triathlons this summer to honor your friend Kevin McDowell who is dealing with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer right now.
Lukas: That’s right, I’m returning to full triathlon training after the mile at the Adidas Grand Prix this weekend. This decision came out of Kevin being diagnosed with cancer in March, he would have definitely won the gold at worlds so I want to bring it to him this year.
ST: How is Kevin doing?
Lukas: He is doing very well. Besides a shaved head no one would think he has cancer. He still comes and trains with us, even beating me in the swim sets at times.
ST: What races are on your calendar?
Lukas: Mile at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York this weekend, then Pan American Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada July 8th which will be my first tri race back just to get a feel for racing and not expecting too much. Junior Nationals in San Diego August 7th, and then finally worlds in Beijing September 10th.
ST: Any predictions on the Mile this weekend?
Lukas: Can't tell you a time, but fast and impressive.
ST: All eyes on Beijing?
Lukas: After this weekend it’s nothing but complete focus for the world championships.
ST: This fall you will be attending the University of Oregon. Do you think you'll still have time to race triathlons then or will your track coach want you to stay focused on running?
Lukas: Beijing will be my last triathlon race. I am concentrating full time on running while at Oregon, I want to see what I’m capable of on the track.
ST: Once you "retire" from triathlon after Beijing, do you think you’ll still swim and bike some?
Lukas: I will surely still keep on swimming and biking. It's part of the training program at Oregon to cross train twice a week substituting an easy recovery run with either easy biking or swimming.
ST: Where do you think you'll be in 5 years?
Lukas: Only time will tell, but the plan is to be in Rio.
ST: Anything else we should know?
Lukas: I would really like to thank for all the support I get from my Multisport Madness Triathlon Team.
