MileSplit OH Podcast: Pro's Perspective Featuring Julia Rizk

Dec 02, 2020

2015 Columbus Academy graduate, former Ohio State Buckeye and current District Track Club representative, Julia Rizk joined the MileSplit Ohio podcast to discuss her athletics career.

The 2019 NCAA Division 1 indoor mile national champion reminisced on her high and college highlights, outlined her goals for the pro circuit moving into 2021 and offered advice to younger athletes who are aiming to maximize their abilities.

If you're a professional track and field and / or cross country athlete who would like to be a guest on the 'Pro's Perspective' please reach out to MileSplit Ohio site editor Mark Dwyer at: mark.dwyer@flosports.tv

Coverage -

Time Stamps -

0:00 -- Episode Introduction
2:05 -- How she got started in the sport
3:30 -- Experience with other sports as a youth athlete
4:50 -- Overview of high school career at Columbus Academy
6:40 -- Talking about doubles at state meets - sophomore to senior years
8:05 -- Favorite events to compete in during high school tenure
9:10 -- Discussing her introduction to XC as a high school junior
10:35 -- Identifying high school career highlights
11:30 -- High School shout-outs to Vikings coaches and teammates
13:05 -- What the recruitment process looked like as a high school senior
14:35 -- Advising young athletes to be assertive with recruitment opportunities
15:25 -- Navigating the transition from high school to college competition
18:00 -- Focusing on the 800 early in college career to longer distances later on
19:40 -- Comparing and contrasting the Pac-12 to the Big Ten
22:05 -- Explaining why she transferred from UCLA to Ohio State
24:05 -- Reminiscing on her 2019 indoor mile national championship title
26:30 -- Walking us through the bell lap where she was leading and got passed
28:00 -- Looking back at the accomplishment and expressing what it means to her
29:10 -- Reviewing her confidence heading into the race and what her expectations were
30:10 -- Recapping her team's trip to cross country nationals during her final season at OSU
32:25 -- How her journey took her to the District Track Club and highlighting the team
35:40 -- Providing a snapshot of what the day in the life of a pro resembles
38:20 -- Outlining what gols she's hoping to accomplish in 2021
40:45 -- Her experience working with DTC's premier sponsor, Under Armour
42:20 -- Endorsing the new line of merchandise for the District Track Club
43:20 -- Wrapping up by imparting some advice on young athletes who want to improve

(Julia Rizk clocked 4:37.63 to take the mile victory at the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham)