Salute To Seniors: Ilolo Izu

Salute to Seniors (Texas 2015)
Travis Miller


Ilolo Izu - Houston Strake Jesuit

What was your most memorable race/moment?

District Meet 2015. We had just came back after winning our district title the year before. And we won the title again. It was so hype since all of the freshman and jv teams were there to experience the real deal for their district meet too. But honestly I’m never going to forget sophomore year at the district meet when I was doing Triple Jump. It was my last jump and I was in 5th place and I really wanted to go to the area meet. So I elevated just a little bit more and PR’d and moved to 3rd place. In the process I actually spiked open myself and cut open my wrist lol. I still have the scar, but what kinda sucks is that immediately after I got moved down to 4th by my friend from Seven Lakes. Same thing happened this year at Rice too… But whatever, good memories hahaha…

But memory can compare to that first taste of ice cream right after my first and LAST cross country season.

Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

Myself.

What was your greatest accomplishment?

Helping my school win its back to back district titles. And sophomore year, when I went sub 50 for the first time in the quarter, at Texas Relays.

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

I’d definitely stop playing basketball the first few years of high school and start focusing on track at the beginning of freshman year. And start hitting the weight room more as well lol. But all in all, I’m thankful for the experiences I had at my school.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

Without a doubt the small injuries junior year and senior year.

What will you miss the most?

My team. Man, I’m never going to forget my team.

What advice you would give to younger athletes?

Definitely work hard, and give it your all so you have no regrets in the end. Trust your coaches, your training, and yourself most importantly.

Shoot for the moon and you’ll land back on the earth. Shoot for the stars…if you fall short you’ll land on the moon; never limit your goals.

What influence has your coaches had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?

Incredible amount of influence, I pretty much owe all my success in this sport to them. I literally would be still playing basketball still had they not help me turn around and start focusing on track…and that wouldn’t have been all that fun hahaha

What are your college plans?

I’m going to Texas A&M to study Chemical Engineering and to run track & field for their program.

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I’d definitely like to say thank you to my coaches and parents who have stood by me all of these past four years. As well, I’d like to thank my teammates for being the best squad out there and for always pushing me to give my all on the track.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks for doing this for our sport, milesplit, all of us athletes really love and appreciate y’all so much.

What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?

All the memories staying up playing NBA 2K in our hotel rooms at Texas Relays or trying to get girl’s numbers at meets or also how we got soooo hyped during our weekend at the state meet. But I’m never going to forget Junior Year when my coach had a panic attack because he thought that the hotel maids had thrown away our Texas Relays numbers…somehow they had actually ended up in front of the bus outside...

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