Jack Zardecki is entering a very big cross country season. The Dallas senior is not only apart of the two-time defending state champion Class AA team, but he's also a threat to win the individual state title. During those two state championship runs, Zardecki has been Dallas' top runner. Last fall, he placed seventh at the PIAA State Championships.
Dallas comes into the fall with six of seven back from last year's team. Zardecki points out the bond that he shares with his teammates. They will face another steep challenge from a talented York Suburban team in AA, but Dallas will once again be the favorites to win the state title. This past spring, Zardecki clocked a PR of 9:22.90 in the 3,200 meters, qualifying him for the outdoor state meet.
Zardecki took some time to answer some questions for PennTrackXC. Check out what he had to say below.
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PennTrackXC: How has your summer training gone? Do you feel like you are where you want to be fitness-wise at this point?
Jack Zardecki: Summer training has been going great and I've been feeling healthy and strong. Fitness-wise I definitely feel like I am in much better shape then I was last year, and after a few time trials, I'm very content with how my fitness is.
PTXC: You guys won your second straight AA state title last fall and you return six varsity boys from last year's team. What's the energy or mood like within the team knowing you have most of the team back?
JZ: Training for us has been going well, and it's just great to be with the same guys for four years. The mood of the team after coming back to official practice after these past two state titles is definitely a very pursuing and energetic mood. I mean, anything could happen during this long season, but we are just going to try to keep our goals in sight and stay healthy. And not put anything to far ahead of us.
Interview above: The Dallas boys after last year's state title
PTXC: Do you feel pressure to once again win the team state title?
JZ: I mean, the pressure is always there. Being a two time team state champion, you almost know many teams look at us with a target on our backs. So the pressure could be there sometimes, but most of the team tries to keep it out of our mind and just relax and worry about our races that we need to run.
PTXC: Dallas has consistently been one of the top programs in the state. What is it about your team that makes it so successful?
JZ: It's definitely the talent that our athletes have and the coaching help that we receive from our head coach and assistant coach. Also, being able to learn from past runners that graduated and be able to absorb their information makes your knowledge base about running that much better. Also, just having a motivated group of guys to push you to your highest potential day in and day out pushes our team to another level.
PTXC: You're coming off a great spring where you had a nice PR in the 3200 meters. What kind of confidence did that give you heading into the summer?
JZ: After my PR at my district race and running the time that I did, I couldn't be more excited. I realized that I could run with the top guys in the state and I was going to be looking strong in the future.
PTXC: In AA, there are a large number of strong returning seniors across the state. Is that something you pay attention to, and if so, how do you feel you matchup with them?
JZ: There are always new and improving people in the state of PA whether they are a freshman, sophomores, juniors, or even a senior. So I always like to keep my eyes open about some of the top people in the state. I pay attention to just a few for AA and I feel as if I match up very competitively with them and that's something I'm really looking forward to!
PTXC: What is one of the little things you do on a daily or weekly basis that you feel makes you a better runner?
JZ: Making myself a better runner is something that you just have to have a vision for. If you are going to run and stay out late and not eat right, you are just not on the right path to begin with. Some of the things I do to make myself the best I can be is to have consistent sleep patterns, daily healthy eating, and most important I think is the cross training which definitely helps me out in the long run.
