YSU Sports

Zallow sprints toward nationals berth

YOUNGSTOWN -- Carl Zallow just wants to become faster.

The 2014 John F. Kennedy graduate ran 6.80 seconds to win the 60-meter dash at the Dec. 10 Golden Flash Gala at Kent State.

The Youngstown State track and field indoor season doesn't resume until a return trip to KSU on Jan. 14, at the Doug Raymond Invitational, but Zallow wants to go faster.

"I'm right there gunning for 6.7," Zallow said. "If I'm in the 6.7s, I'll be extremely happy with that. It'll also put me in position to score a lot of points and maybe even win the 60 Horizon League dash. That's a goal for me."

He was in 16th place in the nation in the 60 after that Dec. 10 meet. The top 16 qualifiers in each event advance to the NCAA indoor track and field championships March 10-11 at College Station, Texas.

"I have to drop my time a lot, that's for sure," Zallow said. "Just keep working hard. Run as fast as I can, whatever time it comes out to be I'll be happy with it.

"I know I give it my all in practice. I give it my all in the meets. I'm always happy with my results because I'm at peace with that."

He's improved in the offseason because of his training.

"With our weightlifting program that we have here, these facilities and (sprints) coach (David) Townsend putting together workouts, I just come and work hard and give it my all in practice," Zallow said.

"It comes out in the meets."

That strength has been a huge part of his success.

"That's been an emphasis on this year, just to get the kids a little stronger on the track and in the weight room," Townsend said. "Carl's adapted very well. He's had some real standout performances. He's run a 6.80. His best time was 6.86. This time of the year you just don't see that. It's a testimony to him. He's a hard-working kid.

"The thing he's done better is he's gotten stronger."

Hopefully, Zallow stays free of injuries.

"When we go into what we called a peaking period, hopefully we'll see drops in times," Townsend said. "The main thing with Carl is staying healthy. You just have to watch how he works. He'll sometimes overwork himself. We have to monitor that a little bit.

"As the season goes along, hopefully he can qualify to be in the top 16 to go to the NCAAs."

For now, Zallow hopes to be part YSU's second straight Horizon League championship in late February in Youngstown.

The Penguins men's indoor and outdoor track and field teams, along with the men's cross country team, all won Horizon League titles in 2016. YSU hopes to do the same in 2017.

"That's one of the reason why I came here," Zallow said. "YSU, we're always gunning for that Horizon League Championships. It's awesome to be on a team like that. When the conference meet comes, it's such a great feeling.

"Track, you usually think of it as an individual sport. When everyone comes together for one common goal, it's a great thing."