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Iowa State University Athletics
Florzak Set to Make ISU Cross Country Debut
09.19.2008 | Cross Country, Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State junior Anna Florzak has turned in her basketball shoes for a pair of running shoes, at least part of the time. The ISU basketball letterwinner will make her debut as a two-sport athlete with the Cyclone cross country team Saturday in the ISU Open.
Florzak was an outstanding high school cross country runner and was first recruited to ISU in cross country, but made the decision to focus on her basketball career. After two years on the hardwood, the Kansas City, Mo., native has decided she wants to try and tackle both sports as a junior.
“When I was a junior in high school, Iowa State recruited me to run here before I was even recruited to play basketball,” Florzak said. “Ever since then I have pondered whether I should just try it. I wake up every morning wondering, and instead of wondering, I wanted to try it.”
The 5-10 guard was every bit as successful on the cross country course as she was the basketball court as a prep athlete. Florzak won the 2003 Missouri state cross country championship and was a three-time district champion for Notre Dame de Sion. She led her high school team to two state titles and four district championships.
“We are excited to see what Anna can do,” ISU cross country coach Corey Ihmels said. “She has the right mental attitude and so we are anxious to see her in collegiate competition.”
Since making the decision to try both sports, Florzak has been busy trying to strike a balance with both sports. The coaches have helped her with the transition, and have supported her goals.
“Anna was an outstanding runner in high school and approached me about trying to run at Iowa State,” ISU women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly said. “We wanted to give her a chance to use her talents and hopefully she can help the cross country team. Her focus has really been on cross country so far this fall.”
Florzak is carrying a full load trying to pull off two sports. The junior logs between 50 and 55 miles running per week, while participating in basketball lifting and conditioning three times a week and individual workouts twice per week. This past week, however, she has focused entirely on cross country as she prepares for her first meet.
“I had a meeting with coach Fennelly and he said that as long as I could balance both, I could do it,” Florzak said. “I don't think either coach, cross country or basketball, thought I would stick with it. Once they saw I did, they have been willing to work with me. Some days I go to cross country and some days I go to basketball. They have been very lenient about trying to let me get both in. Coach Fennelly told me last week that up until Saturday I could concentrate on the meet and pick up with basketball again next Monday.”
Florzak has played in 44 career basketball games as a Cyclone. She has averaged 1.4 points per game, hitting 18 three pointers in her two-year stint. Florzak has also found a way to balance her school work, landing on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll all four semesters of her career. She earned ISU-Scholar Athlete honors in both 2007 and 2008.
After going more than two years without competing in a cross country race, Florzak is ready to see if she still has what it takes to compete for the Cyclones. She will run at noon Saturday in the 6,000-meter event at the ISU Cross Country Course.
“I'm just excited to race,” Florzak said. “I haven't raced in so long. We will see how it goes, but I am excited to get out there and run again.”
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