Verzbicas runs away from the field

Updated: August 4, 2011 12:15PM

Whether he was studying or running, Sandburg’s Lukas Verzbicas was a kid in a hurry.

After winning his first state championship as a sophomore — in Class 3A cross-country — Verzbicas decided to hit the fast-forward button on his high school years. He loaded up on extra classes to graduate in three years and jump-start his college career.

That whirlwind run ended when Verzbicas ran his last official prep race this month. He made it one to remember, defending his title in the Boys Dream Mile at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York City with a time of 3 minutes, 59.71 seconds.

‘‘Now that I look back on it, I’d rather it’d be four years [in high school],’’ Verzbicas said after the Dream Mile. ‘‘[But] I’m also very
excited for college.’’

He’s going to the track-and-field capital of the United States —
Eugene, Ore. — to run for the University of Oregon. He gave Ducks fans a sneak preview of his talent by setting the national prep two-mile record there this spring, running an 8:29.46 as the only high schooler in an elite field. That was his second national prep record this year, following his 14:06.78 in the
indoor 5,000 meters at the New
Balance Nationals in New York City in March.

For all of those track highlights, another dominant — though not
record-setting — performance in the Class 3A state cross-country meet last fall, plus a sweep of the two national prep cross-country titles, Verzbicas is the Sun-Times Male Athlete of the Year for 2010-11.

How good is he? Legendary York cross-country coach Joe Newton, who won his first state title in 1962, calls Verzbicas ‘‘the best that I’ve ever seen in high school in Illinois, flat-out. We’re going to miss that guy. Those guys come along once in a lifetime.’’

Craig Virgin holds a similar place in Illinois distance-running lore. He set the all-time state-meet record in cross country, running 13:50.6 in 1972, before going on to the Olympics and becoming the only American to win the world cross-country title.

Virgin was at Detweiller Park in Peoria last November, riding in the pace vehicle as Verzbicas chased his record. Verzbicas came up just short, running a 13:54 that ranks third all-time behind Virgin and Neuqua Valley’s Chris Derrick (13:52 in 2007).

‘‘I feel very fortunate he didn’t break my record at Detweiller,’’ said Virgin, who has been impressed by Verzbicas both as a person and as a runner. ‘‘He’s very humble and polite and respectful.’’

That’s the case even on the rare occasions when Verzbicas doesn’t reach his goal, such as on that day in Peoria. Even months later, the memory seems to rankle.

‘‘I don’t want to look at it too much,’’ he said of the state cross-country meet. ‘‘I didn’t really achieve what I expected to.’’

‘‘He was certain he was going to [break the record],’’ Sandburg cross-country coach John O’Malley said. ‘‘He was in total disbelief when he didn’t. .  .  . He’s a perfectionist, that’s the bottom line.’’

Verzbicas was in a better mood weeks later, when he captured a double dip that few runners even
attempt. First, he won the Nike Cross Nationals on a cold, blustery day in Portland, Ore., with a 5,000-meter time of 15:59.2. A week later, he repeated as Foot Locker
national champ with a time of 14:59 for 5,000 meters under more
favorable conditions in San Diego.

The national sweep made it a foregone conclusion that he would repeat as Gatorade Boys Cross-Country Athlete of the Year, which he did.

Then came track season, during which he ran only in national-level events because the Illinois High School Association wouldn’t grant him a waiver to participate in those and compete for Sandburg. Virgin, who ran an 8:42.6 two-mile at state in 1973, was among those who were disappointed that Verzbicas didn’t run high school track.

‘‘Those rules have got to be changed,’’ said Virgin, who noted that he ran in elite competitions as a high schooler.

Verzbicas wound up winning the distance triple at the New Balance Nationals, adding the mile and two-mile titles to his record in the 5,000 meters. Then came his debut in
Eugene, which was nerve-racking.

‘‘It was .  .  . a lot of pressure,’’
Verzbicas said. ‘‘I could not embarrass myself.’’

He didn’t do so that day, and he hasn’t done so in a high school career notable both for its brevity and its success.

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