Sport he can fall back on
Plainfield South QB Schultz tries cross-country
It’s not easy, but Plainfield South senior Niko Schultz is trying to keep everything in perspective.
He has been an athlete in search of a chance to compete going on five months now.
He’s the Cougars’ starting quarterback in the fall and also one of the state’s top middle-distance runners in the spring. At least, that’s the way it is in normal years. But it’s 2020, when high school sports have been sidelined for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Schultz’s track season was canceled after four indoor meets, and his football season has been pushed to next spring.
When the news came down about the latter decision by the IHSA, “I was taken by surprise, for sure,” Schultz said. “I had to tell myself, ‘This is not just me. This is every single athlete in America.’ These are strange times.”
So strange that Schultz, who hadn’t run a competitive race longer than a mile, is tackling a new challenge as a member of South’s crosscountry team.
It was the idea of Jason Crowe, the Cougars’ boys track and crosscountry coach.
“[Schultz is] a great young man,” Crowe said. “He’s one of those kids who comes along once in a coaching career.”
When Illinois’ abbreviated track
season was shut down in March, Schultz had the state’s best time in the 800 meters at 1 minute, 56.99 seconds. With football postponed, Crowe reasoned, why not use the time to help Schultz get a head start on training for next track season?
Crowe promised not to pile on the miles that distance runners normally would put in.
“He’s definitely speed-based,” Crowe said. “We’re not going to screw that up with cross-country. A lot of stuff is going to help him with track.”
Schultz didn’t need a hard sell. Between the prospect of an even longer layoff or trying a new sport, the choice was easy.
“When you don’t go competing for eight, nine, 10 months, you kind of lose the competitive drive,” he said. “I love competition. I compete in anything.”
That spirit comes out in his wish list for his first abbreviated cross-country season, which began Monday with preseason workouts and will end Oct. 24.
“I guess my goal for the season is to break 16 minutes [for three miles],” Schultz said.
Nothing would surprise Crowe. “We’re going to find out pretty quick,” he said, noting the Cougars will have a time trial this weekend.
Whatever happens, Schultz plans to embrace the moment even as he knows the chances of playing football next spring depend on Illinois getting a handle on the pandemic.
“I’m playing it by ear once football season comes,” he said. “If it doesn’t [happen], there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“HE’S ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO COMES ALONG ONCE IN A COACHING CAREER.” JASON CROWE, Plainfield South boys track and cross-country coach, on Niko Schultz