Sacco making up for late start
The Niagara Olympic Club’s top male performer during the spring season is a recent convert to the sport of running.
Lucas Sacco only started cross country running in September at Sir Winston Churchill and ended up finishing 39th at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships in the novice boys division.
“I was not expecting to do that well. I came into with no experience and it was only my sixth race ever.”
The result sparked him to take the sport more seriously.
“I really enjoyed the cross country season. I started it as a side thing just to get out of the house and then I discovered I was good at it,” the 15-year-old St. Catharines resident said.
He was also motivated to continue to work hard by his teammates at Churchill.
“Those guys are some of my best friends.”
Late last year, he joined the Niagara Olympic Club.
“I felt a different club with more involvement might help me so I decided to come to NOC and I have thrived here ever since. The people here have been so welcoming and everyone is benefitting off of each other’s improvement. It’s a great community and I am happy to be a part of it.”
The Grade 10 student’s spring high school season included: finishing second in the 800 metres and third in the 1,500 metres at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships; placing second in the 800 metres and fifth in the 1,500 metres at the South Regionals; and, placing eighth at OFSAA in the 800 metres with a time of 2:02.92. He has also qualified for the Legion nationals on the 800 metres and 1,200 metres.
“Lucas’s progression in the 800 this year has been nothing short of phenomenal. He has taken a full 11 seconds off of his time in the 800 in a mere four months; the two-minute barrier will fall very soon,” NOC coach Bill MacDonald said. “Lucas’s positive attitude and excellent communication skills make him a very coachable athlete. It will be exciting to watch his progression over the next few years.”
Sacco was less surprised with his results in the spring high school season.
“At that point, I was settled into how well I was doing and I knew what I was capable of. I had been working really hard with Bill, the middle distance coach here, and Sharon (Stewart) as well and I have a good team that I work with,” he said. “I knew I was doing well in the workouts we were doing and I expected to do well in the races.”
He trains six days a week and believes he has made great strides in the sport since last fall, especially mentally.
“I used to be really worried about my long runs. Anyone who starts running feels that pressure to go fast because you want to be good but it is all about consistency. It is about that one day when you don’t do so well and you are down on yourself. It is making sure you always get up and do your best because you will improve eventually.”
The next step in his running career will come by maintaining that consistency.
“It is staying with it at the NOC and with Bill. He will get me to where I need to be.”
Sacco is enjoying the journey.
“Everyone talks about the runner’s high and it is almost like magic. When you start a race it feels great, the middle doesn’t feel the very best but when I cross that finish line it doesn’t matter what place I came. I am still very proud of myself.”
His running goal is to compete at the post secondary level and earn a scholarship.
“That is still a long way off and we will see what happens.”
His motivation is simple.
“I enjoy chasing the dream of being the fastest on the track. I hope to get there one day.”
