COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Lukas Verzbicas, who put a promising running career on hold to win the junior world triathlon title for a cancer-stricken friend, is recommitting himself to triathlon full-time.
Verzbicas, only the fifth U.S. high schooler to break the 4-minute mile barrier, said Thursday he’s going to “follow my heart.” He’s withdrawing from Oregon, where he’s on a running scholarship, and moving to the new Elite Triathlon Academy.
Verzbicas returned to triathlon this summer to honor friend and training partner Kevin McDowell, who had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March. McDowell received a clean bill of health after five months of chemotherapy, and was at the finish line when Verzbicas won the junior world title in September.
