Born To Run

 

Chad Zallow’s Decision to Attend YSU and His Historic Start

 

By Jeff Brown

 

The Youngstown State University track program received a blessing this season when they got a commitment from the nation’s top 60-meter hurdle recruit, Chad Zallow.

 

Chad Zallow, a Warren JFK High School product, had one of the greatest high school track careers ever, finishing as a seven-time Ohio state champion and three time All-American.

 

Chad Zallow had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan but still chose YSU.

 

“The biggest thing for me was that I just felt comfortable. Whenever I feel comfortable, I excel the most athletically and academically,” Chad Zallow said. “I feel like these facilities are one of the best in the country, and my brother’s on the team so I was pretty familiar with the program and everything.”

 

Even Chad Zallow’s older brother Carl Zallow, who is the reigning Horizon League Track Freshmen of the year and also on the YSU team, did not expect Chad Zallow to choose YSU.

 

“I knew his offers, and I knew the schools he was interested in and then when the time came down to it, he started talking about YSU a lot more and then ultimately he committed to YSU,” Carl Zallow said. “I was really surprised like everyone else was.”

 

It didn’t take long for Chad Zallow to catch his groove at the NCAA level. In his first meet, the YSU Ice breaker, Chad Zallow set the school record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.89. He would go on to break his own record in each of YSU’s next two events, and currently has the seventh-best time in the nation.

 

“I’ve always looked at that record and always thought I could definitely beat that record. It’s great to get off to such a good start like that. Hopefully I continue to drop that time down throughout the season,” Chad Zallow said.

 

Chad Zallow has a chance to be one of the top runners in the country over the next four seasons at YSU, and could even earn All-American status as early as this season. The top eight athletes in the NCAA are named as All-Americans.

 

“I don’t want to set the bar anywhere. I feel like I can compete at the national stage as one of the top in the country. I think this year will be a good starting point to see where I’m at. I feel like I could definitely be up there,” Chad Zallow said. “Hopefully I get a shot at running for National Championship this year.”

 

Chad Zallow has already qualified for the U.S National Championships and could potentially earn a spot at the Olympic trials later this year.

 

“The biggest thing for me is to try to make the time for the trials,” Chad Zallow said. “That would be a good experience just to have and then in the future [the Olympics] is definitely something on my mind. I just have to keep on improving from where I’m at.”