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IT WAS A SENIOR YEAR FOR THE AGES FOR CORNING'S GREGORSKI (2022-07-20)

 By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
When the year started Jack Gregorski thought maybe he could be a state medalist this year.

As the school year got going the Corning senior thought maybe a state title would be possible.

As he wraps up his career Gregorski is leaving Corning as one of the most decorated runners in the history of the school and Section 4.

Three sports seasons — cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field — with five state titles for Gregorski, who was the Southern Tier Sports Report Male Athlete of the Year and The Sports Report All-Region Athlete of the Year.

The Corning senior won the individual cross country title this year, and he won the NYSPHSAA titles in both the indoor and outdoor 3200 meters.

Throw in a team state title in cross country and a Federation title in the 4x800 meters in outdoor track and field and Gregorski might need an entire room for all his state golds.

“I came into cross thinking maybe I have a shot at a top 10 finish, and then as it got closer and closer, maybe top three and then on the day maybe I can win,” Gregorski said. “Since then the pressure has been up. If you win one state title people start to look at you to win more, but just to continue to improve and race the higher levels of competition in indoors and outdoors just has been a super thrilling experience.”

Gregorski has squared off with many of the top runners in the country over the course of this year, and the competition is something that just makes him better.

“I thrive off the competition and racing good competition makes you better,” Gregorski said.

When the year started Gregorski never would have imagined being a five-time state champion. However, this wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was something he’s worked hard for over years and years of work.

“I think if you asked me at the beginning of this year if I thought any of this would be possible I probably would have said no,” Gregorski said. “But, it’s been a journey. That’s what I focus on. I don’t focus on getting here and winning a state title, I focus on all the workouts and all the runs that led to this moment. This is sort of the capstone to let the world see what you have been working on.”

The year included records, lots of records, both school and section four records, and a lot of these numbers are things Gregorski had been aiming for.

“It’s super exciting,” Gregorski said. “I remember when I first saw those records and I thought they were impossible. Just each year inching closer and closer and to finally get them. I look forward to when the next generation of athletes come in and they see my records and they in turn get closer and closer and hopefully break them.”

Gregorski’s Section 4 records in the 3200 broke the marks of former Greene standout Chad Noelle, who went on to win a national title in college at Oklahoma State and he runs professionally.

For Gregorski breaking the records of someone like Noelle makes him believe he may be capable of big things in the future.

“It gives me a lot of confidence for what I can do collegiately and possibly beyond,” Gregorski said. “It really fills me with a lot of hope and aspirations, I’m just looking forward to the next chapter.

“It’s definitely crazy to think about (breaking the records of a former national champion), but I’m just glad I can be a part of their journey having reached that level.”

One of the big keys to the success that Gregorski has had is how much he’s grown as a runner over the years. Gregorski was a little later into the sport than some, but he just worked hard, and kept getting better all the time.

“I didn’t really run until eighth grade,” Gregorski said. “My parents said you might want to try this to stay active. I joined the Prefo running club. I fell in love with it pretty much from the start, but I never imagined myself achieving this sort of success. I never achieved this kind of success in any other sport. Just to see myself evolve and the personal development that has come through running is great. It’s an irreplaceable part of my life right now.

“I have seen a ton of athletes very talented their early years and they burn out. I just told myself, don’t let that be you. Every day is a day to improve yourself. I try to constantly stay motivated all four years and I think that’s paid off.”

One of the things that helped Gregorski over the years was being a part of a Corning program that had so many great athletes he could learn from.

“It’s crazy, I think the reason this comes is because when I was a freshman I saw runner like Bryce Derick and Nathan Lawson and the great runners, they were role models to me. They themselves had role models in the generations that were before my time, Corning runners, they feed off that. I think that’s what is constantly leading us. I give a lot of credit to them for helping me become the runner I am today and I hope that will help the next generation.”

Part of the next group is rising senior Ashton Bange, a state medalist in the 1600 meters outdoors, a top five finisher in the state in cross country, and a part of the state title-winning 4x800 relay and state title winning cross country team.

For Gregorski having Bange around made him better, and he’s excited to see what his teammate will do next.

“I definitely think Ashton has got an eye on all the records I set this year and I hope he goes for them,” Gregorski said. “The proudest I can be in him is if my records only last one year before he takes them. I wish all my teammates the best.”

And, having Bange on the team this year always gave Gregorski someone to make him a better runner.

“So much (Gregorski said of how much Bange helped him). It’s always great to have someone right on your shoulder, right ahead of you, always pushing you and makes it so you are never feeling like you are on your own. It just prepares you for competition because you are always competing.

“You can never let your guard down too much when Ashton is your competitor. He will beat you and he will make you put in the work and I really looked forward to that every raced we competed at.”

Now that his high school career is complete it’s onto college where Gregorski will run at Princeton.

“Their program is having a huge amount of development right now, so I’m just looking forward to being part of their next chapter,” Gregorski said.

Gregorski saw the success Princeton had this year and is excited to be a part of it.

“Watching all those Princeton runners, some of them underclassmen, it motivates me a lot. That could be me next year, and years in the future.”
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STSR FILE PHOTO.


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