Interview: John Mascari

By: Justin Floyd (via email)

School: (Terre Haute North H.S/ Indiana State University)

PR’s: High School/College

1600/Mile: 4:19.92 (mile)

3200/3000m: 9:00.83 (3200m)/ 8:27.85 (3000m)

5k: 14:59.10

8k: xx:xx/ 26:06

John Mascari, in a fairly high profile affair (thanks to threads like this), recently transferred from Indiana University to Indiana State University, took the time to speak with us about running, his transfer, and his future.

IndianaRunner.com: John, thanks for taking the time to speak with us at Indiana Runner, I know the start of the semester is always a busy time. First, take me back to last spring. You had a fantastic indoor season capped off by a 9:00 3200m at the HSR relays but failed to run faster during the outdoor season, was it health, training, overtraining that hampered your performance during the outdoor season (although you still ran very well)?

John Mascari: Looking back at my senior track season I was able to run some great times both indoor and outdoor. I never overtrained for the outdoor season. During the cross season I was pretty fit so going into the indoor season I think that the training from XC kind of carried over to indoors.  I was in great shape. Outdoor Track I got a bit sick around the MIC meet, nothing too serious, it was not anything that really had to do with how I performed through the rest of the track season. I overcame the sickness and was still able to run some decent times in the post season. I was just faster indoors that's all.

IR: When did you make your decision as to where you would attend college last year? How many schools were you looking at?

JM: I verbally committed to IU in the summer going into my senior year of cross. I did not take any other visits to any other schools. I did talk to a few other coaches around the state but that was about it.

IR: Describe your summer training and your overall fitness heading into this year? Was redshirting a plan between you and your coaches all along? Or was it a wait and see how things play out?

JM: The plan was to redshirt for both cross country and track. I knew before I committed that I would redshirt. In a way I liked the idea of redshirting. It gives me an extra year to train and catch up a bit on the older guys. Sometimes it can be tough redshirting. I love competing in running and sometimes when there are not too many races to be put in, it makes training harder. It just takes time and patience; it'll be worth the wait for next fall. Being able to race is a reward for us runners. It takes a while to train but when a big race comes up it is great being able to see what you can do and see all the hard work pay off.

IR: I think that everyone in the nation can agree that Indiana has a top notch program; however, top notch does not always mean it is a fit for everyone. When and why did you decide that you wanted to transfer?

JM: IU is a very successful school when it comes to running. The coaching staff and all the individuals on the team have a great amount of dedication to the program. I admire all the support the guys on the team have given me. Coming home for Christmas break it felt great being in Terre Haute. I put in a lot of thought about what is best for my education and my future. I know leaving a Big Ten school for a smaller school is unheard of, but I just wanted to be happy and being closer to home does so. I did not have anything against IU and the program what so ever. I had to do what is best for myself and what makes me happy. I am home now. Indiana State is a great fit for me, the school isn’t so big and I feel a lot more comfortable being here. Coach McNichols is an awesome guy and I'm looking forward to having a successful four years with him as well as the team here at ISU.

IR:  Have you been released by Indiana so that you are able to compete right away? If so, when is your first race and what are your goals for this season?

JM: I have been released to compete. I will redshirt for indoor track and possibly outdoors. If training is going as planned and if I am handling the transition well enough then I may compete this spring. I may be doing a couple open races this indoor season but not too many. Mostly I am just training through the winter.

IR: You are one of the biggest name recruits/transfers ISU has had in quite some time, do you feel like the program will attract some more bigger names in the wake of your transfer?

JM: I hope it could attract some younger guys into looking at a school such as Indiana State. We have a young team right now but the future looks bright for this Sycamore program. No matter where you go and what you do, always do what is best for yourself. Make the right choices and do what makes you happy.

John, thank you for your time we wish you the best of luck this season and beyond. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us at IndianaRunner.com.