This month’s student profile features Shaker Heights High School senior Lukas Zarders, a MAC Scholar, SGORR member, varsity soccer player and collegiate track and field hopeful. He’s an unassuming teen with a quiet determination and a fondness for traveling—he holds dual citizenship with Sweden, where he’s spent his summers as long as he can remember. Also, later this month, look for Lukas in the 2019 issue of Measuring What Matters, the District’s Annual Profile.

Read more about Lukas Zarders: 

How did you get involved in running track? 

I started running track in the seventh grade at the Middle School really just to get faster for soccer, but by the time I got to high school, I really enjoyed it. Halfway through freshman year, a friend was doing it, so my best friend and I decided to try it. I ended up running and competing in long jump. That year, my best jump was 20 feet, 9 inches and I did well at Districts. Last year for indoor season, I placed seventh in the state and was all Ohio, but during outdoor season, I had some pretty bad shin splints that prevented me from jumping as well as I’d hoped. This year, I’m looking forward to training hard and realizing more of my potential. 

What events do you compete in? 

In addition to long jump, I run anything between a 100 and a 400, but mostly relays. This year, I’ll probably run on the 4x100, 4x200 or the 4x400 relays. And I think we have a really good chance of making it to states in a few of those. I’m really excited about it. 

Any goals for this year?

I’d want to be in the top five in long jump at states and I hope to make it in a few relays. Definitely, my biggest goal would be to win states. 

Speaking of Sweden, tell us what it’s like to be a dual citizen. 

It’s pretty cool. I’ve been going to Sweden every summer since I was little. It’s interesting that I get to see the American side of things here and then, when I go there, I get to experience Swedish culture. Plus, my mom taught my siblings and I how to speak Swedish, so we can communicate when we’re there. Two summers ago, my parents signed me up to run with a track club while we were there. I did really well in the long jump and that’s when my mind was really opened to the idea of competing for Sweden and to start working on goals to compete at a higher level. I was so glad for the experience because I also had the opportunity to meet other athletes. We all exchanged contact information and we’re still in touch to this day. More than anything, the experience of being a dual citizen has shown me just how much we have in common as human beings. 

Any favorite Swedish foods?

There are so many. But when we stay with my grandmother in Motala, I love to eat Swedish kebab pizza. It’s this really thin pizza and I can eat a lot of it. It’s sprinkled with meat all over and it’s just delicious. 

So what’s your dream, post-graduation?

I would love to get a scholarship to compete as a track and field athlete in college. My dream would be to attend Ohio State and compete, but I have to put in a lot of work to go there. Also, I’ve looked at Akron and Miami University. Both are great programs. My dream would be to attend college on a track and field scholarship and maybe compete for Sweden. I know there are some athletes who do that, so maybe that’s an option. That would be amazing. 

Track and field isn’t an easy sport. What is it that you love about it? 

I’m definitely passionate about it. It’s great when you put in all the hard work and then it pays off on the podium. That definitely makes waking up at 530 to get to zero period lifting classes at the high school worth it.