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October 18, 2022

Huntley senior Ty Rasmussen, left and sophomore Tommy Nitz after the Fox Valley Conference cross country meet Oct. 15.
Steve Peterson
Huntley senior Ty Rasmussen, left and sophomore Tommy Nitz after the Fox Valley Conference cross country meet Oct. 15.

Features, Sports • October 18, 2022

HHS run leaders Nitz, Rasmussen talk run strategy

By

HUNTLEY – Huntley’s two finishers in the top 10, winner sophomore Tommy Nitz and 10th-place senior Ty Rasmussen have been dedicated to improving their talents as runners since middle school starts. They answered a survey about their careers, which continue at the IHSA Class 3A Machesney Park Harlem regional Oct. 22.

Red Raiders boys cross country coach Matt Kaplan commented on Nitz and Rasmussen’s careers.

“Nitz is a hard working person,” Kaplan said. “He wants to get better every day and works to reach his goals he sets for himself. When it is time to put the work in at practice he does it. I think Nitz sets a great example for the team with that type of work ethic. The results he reached this season are a product of that type of work ethic.”

“I could not be more proud of Rasmussen,” Kaplan said. “As a senior, he has dedicated himself to getting better every day and has worked to push himself to achieve the best results he can in his final season. Rasmussen’s performances this season have been a privilege to watch. I’m impressed by the way he has continued to push himself to new personal bests at every course and set several best times. He is a great example to the team of what is possible when we work hard and believe in ourselves.”

Describe your start in cross country?

Nitz: “I got started through my brothers,” Nitz said. “They always did local 5Ks and I joined in for one. I did really well and realized I could have a career in running.”

Rasmussen: “I initially started running in cross country in sixth grade so I could get myself in better shape for basketball tryouts. I don’t remember my first meet but I do remember my middle school meets with my next door neighbor. After the meets parents would take me to McDonald’s and we would watch WWE together when we got back home.”

What was your preseason and weekly training plan?

Nitz: “This summer was the best training I ever had in my life, running around 35-40 miles a week. I didn’t do any camps just the Huntley High School one. In preseason we trained super hard, the hardest I’ve ever worked.”

Rasmussen: “Over the summer I met with the other varsity runners and got in a run every morning and then we went to Manny’s to eat together after a long run Every day the team went for a casual run around the Huntley town area, except for Tuesday, when the team had a more up tempo workout, running for 10 minutes at a low six minute pace for two sets.”

What were your best performances and biggest wins this season?

Nitz: “The best I performed and the biggest win for me was at the Leavy Invite where I ran a 15:11 and took down some of the best runners in the state. The toughest course so far was easily (Woodstock) Emricson Park.”

Rasmussen: “My biggest achievements this year is breaking 15:30 at Peoria Invite. The toughest course has been the Emricson (McHenry County Invite) with all the steep hills but I still performed really well.”

What are your team, individual goals for the post-season?

Nitz: “My goal is for the team to win the Fox Valley Conference and qualify for state.”

Rasmussen: “This conference meet, my goal is to place in the top 10, which I think I have a really good shot at hitting if I work hard. The rest of the post-season I want to qualify and take a second trip to Peoria. If we do make it to state then my goal is to beat my personal record time of 15:25 and finish my last cross country race to the best of my ability.”

Any funny teammates, who can lighten the mood?

Nitz “There is so many funny people on the team it is hard to decide. Every day I’ll be laughing and having fun. I look forward to practice because of that. If I hard to choose, I would say Hudson Fisher always lightens up the mood and makes me laugh.”

Rasmussen: “The funniest guys on the team are definitely the varsity guys that I run with every day, but before meets, all of them understand there is no time to joke and to focus up.”

What were your previous sports?

Nitz: “I played basketball until last year for the high school and took part in travel baseball for seven years.”

Rasmussen: “I used to play basketball until my freshman year.”