The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lorain sprinter Cross commits to go to Akron
Titan hopes to regain state 100m championship
Lorain County’s finest in the 100m, and one of Ohio’s best, has made it official.
Lorain senior Zion Cross announced April 9 his commitment to the Akron to compete in track and field. The 2016 state champion in the 100-meter dash is taking his talents an hour south.
“They have a new coach that came in from Mizzou (Missouri),” Cross said. “He contacted me around football time and basically he was telling me all the things I wanted to hear. He talked about the program he wanted to build, the recruiting class coming in and just how everything would change. He did some special things at Mizzou with a couple athletes and I think he has and I have what it takes to burst into the national scene and just be a great program.”
Cross had several colleges interested in him in Tiffin, Pittsburgh, Tusculum and Eastern Michigan. But he followed his heart to Akron.
Playing football is a possibility, but he will have discussions with Akron’s football coach down the line about that. When most student-athletes committed in February on signing day, Cross opted not to. And for good reason.
It was more fitting to make the announcement during the track season.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a relief, but I wanted to wait around track time to make my decision because I knew I was going to school for track,” Cross said. “So I just waited a little later.
“But I knew I had it in my mind that I wanted to go there from when the coach started talking to me. I had an official visit there and I loved it. They have a great campus and I wanted to let everyone know where I’m going. I’m glad I’ve made this decision.”
Cross became the first boys athlete from a Lorain City School to win a state championship in 2016 since
1947. He also finished as a runner-up in the 200-meter dash.
Cross’ PR is a 10.57 in the 100m, a Lorain County record. And a 21.41 in the 200m.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder’s college aspirations are to make the NCAA Nationals and to run under 10 seconds in the 100m and low 20s in the 200m.
Since 1998, Akron has produced 41 All-Americans and 33 first-team All-Americans in track and field, a total Cross hopes to add to.
Cross leaned on his mom
and grandmother to help make the college decision.
But before he can embark to Akron, he has some unfinished business his senior year with the Titans. After finishing third in the 100m last year dealing with a nagging hamstring injury, Cross wants to leave Lorain on top.
Accepting anything less isn’t in his track blood.
“I’m definitely shooting to make history,” Cross said. “I’ve made a commitment to three guys that if they work and push themselves in practice, that I
would be on the 4x4 to try and get them down to state. I know that would be surprising to a lot of people in the county and Ohio that I would be running the 4x4. And obviously I just want a big season.
“I want to go toward the regional record in the 200. I want to break that. And I want to break the state record in the 100. And just coming off the injury last year, I have a lot to prove. I didn’t have a bad season finishing third last year, but just to let people know I didn’t fall off.”