Margaretta's Zang off to record-setting start

Margaretta junior Cole Zang reported for the first day of school Tuesday with a school record already in his back pocket. Zang set a school and meet record at last Saturday's cross country meet at Eastwood High School, completing the course in 15 minutes, 32 seconds. That time was a significant drop from Zang's 16-minute finish at the state cross country meet last year. He finished sixth in Division IV and is on an upward trajectory this fall. "I went out at my target pace, but at the 2-mile I was a little worried I was behind so I really started to kick it in that final mile," Zang said. "I really did want to break my school record. I wasn't really going after the course record, but I ended up getting both, which I was very happy with when I crossed that finish line." That performance — which bested Caiden Fultz's previous school record of 15:53 in 2024 — helped Zang reach one of his goal's right out of the chute. "My initial goal was to get in the 15s," he said. "I think my goal by the end of the season is to get into the lower 15s, maybe even high 14s. That would be a pretty ambitious goal, but I think it's definitely possible with some work." Work is not an issue with Zang, who said he runs 50 or more miles each week. "Cole's so good because he loves running," Margaretta coach Bill Minshall said. "He was a kid who was born to do this and he's thought of himself as a runner his whole life. He wants to train hard; he loves to push himself. "As a coach, oftentimes I find myself trying to pull him back because he wants to push so hard and be great at it. It's easy to be a coach when you've got a kid like that." Added Zang: "Hammering down every day and working hard, that just makes you a better runner. Obviously, keeping yourself healthy is also important." Zang's performance at Eastwood added to what has been a great 2026 for the distance runner. He helped Margaretta's boys win the Division IV state track & field championship in early June with fourth-place finishes in the 1600 and 3200 meters. So, what is his favorite: track or cross country? "I enjoy both, but I think cross country is definitely my favorite," he said. "I've been running longer distances for a long time and it's something I enjoy more." Zang's mom, Elaine, ran cross country at Shelby. "My mom really helped me become the runner I am today," Zang said. "She helped me with my form when I was younger and that was very beneficial." His dad, John, is a Margaretta graduate and played football and basketball in high school. Zang breaks up all the running in the fall and spring by swimming for Margaretta when the weather turns cold. "I like it because cross-training is beneficial for me because I tend to get injured, so it helps me stay fit during the winter," he said. Zang, who already is talking with college coaches about running at the next level, said he likes to get out fast on the cross country course. "I usually like to get out fast and settle into my pace and really kick it in at the end," he said. "Getting out fast is important so you don't get stuck in a crowd." Zang will see how he measures up against some of the best runners in northern Ohio at Friday night's Mel Brodt Invitational on Bowling Green State University's cross country layout. "It's specifically made to be a cross country course," Minshall said. "They're not running on a golf course or in a park. Should be pretty cool." Ten boys broke 16:00 at last year's race at BGSU. Among the standouts Zang will be running against will be Perkins senior Joel Smelcer, who set a meet record last Saturday at the Seneca East Tiger Classic. Zang and Smelcer are among the top Division III cross country runners in the state. Margaretta moved up from Div. IV this year. "They never got to race each other in track," Minshall said. "Bowling Green is the first time where they've gotten a chance to compete against each other. I think Cole and Joel will both be competing for the state title." Zang has never raced at BGSU. He said he'll walk the course before the race. "I've studied the course map a little bit. I'll probably have to walk it to make sure I know the course well enough," he said. "I think it'll be an exciting experience. (Smelcer will) definitely bring out a lot of competition from me since he is still quite a bit faster. It'll help me push myself to go even faster."