Michael Vitucci
School: St. Xavier
Graduation: 2015
2013 OHSAA State Cross Country Championships: D1 8th Place (15:42.20) #2 Returner
St. Xavier Senior Michael Vitucci was 8th in last years OHSAA State Cross Country Championships (15:42.20.) He is the #2 returner and followed up last year's XC season with a 1st Place in the D1 1600, running 4:07.96. He also anchored the Xavier boy's to an All Ohio State Record in the 4x800 (7:36.33) and split a 1:49 as he anchored the team to a win in the 4x800 at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals (7:37.26).
Best time in a 5K race and in which meet?
My best time in a 5K race is a 15:28 at our district meet at Voice of America Park.
Tell us how your summer training is going?
My summer is training is going well. I am just getting back in the groove of things and I am very excited for the upcoming season.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
My goals for the upcoming season are to hopefully get our school record in the 5K, and compete very well at the state meet.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
I started running my freshman year with cross country, but I had run a few 5K's in grade school. My dad has run ever since high school and I wanted to give it a try.
Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?
I believe we will be travelling back to the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational this season which is in Kentucky. We competed there last year for the first time.
What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?
My favorite course to run is the Tiffin Carnival course in Tiffin, OH. There are some tight turns and places where it narrows quickly so it makes for a pretty interesting race.
What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?
The toughest course to run in Ohio is the district course at Voice of America Park. For the majority of the race, you see/hear no spectators, and the course itself is very narrow.
What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?
I put extra emphasis on the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational because there are many teams that we race there that we will only be able to race once during the season. We want to make a good showing and compete well.
What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
My favorite cross country race so far is the Moeller Primetime Invitational my junior year. It was very dark and the rest of the team lined the sides of the course and did the wave as we passed by.
Favorite cross country memory?
My favorite cross country memory is my first practice as a freshman. I was feeling good and said I would go 7 miles that day. I got completely lost and had to get picked up about 3 miles away from the school. It was very embarrassing then, but it is funny now.
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
When am I not running? This is cross country for god's sake.
Favorite quote?
"Pressure is a privilege" -Billie Jean King
What shoes do you train in?
I wear the Nike ZM Elite 6.
What shoes do you race in?
I race in the Brooks Mach series.
What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?
I usually don’t take my ipod, but if I do, you can be sure I have some Kanye or Rick Ross going.
What professional athlete would you most like to meet?
If I could meet a professional athlete, it would definitely be Kara Goucher.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
Most people dont know that I once juggled a soccer ball 114 times.
