AHS Distance Runner Landon Zoss Continues to Lower Times, Redefine Limits

Ella Hu || SPORTS EDITOR

Entering the home stretch of a race and giving it all their energy in the concluding strides, runners fight exhaustion as they push through the physical and mental barriers that define distance running. For junior distance runner Landon Zoss, this moment, when willpower prevails over fatigue to the finish line, is exactly when he pushes past limits and rewrites the record board. 

The mile, a race demanding speed and endurance, has become Zoss’s specialty and favorite to run. “It’s like a sprint, but it’s also the most competitive event,” he said. 

Competition has defined much of Zoss’s running career. Since joining cross country and track as a freshman, Zoss has competed in varsity cross country, indoor track, and spring track, becoming one the most accomplished athletes in the program. 

As a junior, during the indoor track season, Zoss placed sixth in Division 1A in the mile with a personal best of 4:19:02 and second in the MVC Championship 1,000 meter race. During the Cross Country season, Zoss finished second at the Division 1A Cross Country Championship with a personal best 5K time of 15:39:01, breaking the school record in the process and earning the Boston Globe All-Scholastics recognition. 

However, his success as a distance runner began far away from championships. Before joining cross country and track, Zoss never officially competed in races. Instead, much of his time running was spent with his dad on weekends up and down his street and in local road races in the Andover community. 

Zoss’s improvement as a runner since freshman year reflects his consistency and commitment to track. During his first ever timed trial, his mile time was approximately 5:40; now three years later, Zoss runs over a minute faster. While his progress has certainly come with time, it was not without setbacks.

Near the end of his sophomore year, exhaustion finally caught up with Zoss. Though he remained disciplined, running races became harder, a challenge many runners quietly face. 

“I started burning out,” he said. “In the end, I realized I had to just step back, take a break, and let my body rest to recover.”

This decision proved pivotal to Zoss. Returning this past cross country season, Zoss delivered many strong performances and races of his career, culminating in his record-breaking 5K championship race. 

Cross country and distance coach Sue Kiley, who has coached Zoss since his first timed trial, was not surprised by his record-breaking times. 

“He has an excellent work ethic,” she said. “It’s not just his ability, although his ability is incredible. He does all the work. He knows how to work himself and compete, and that’s what makes him successful.”  

According to Kiley, Zoss’s most defining trait as a runner does not rely on talent alone but also his motivation when there is competition. 

“He doesn’t shy away from competition—he almost thrives on it,” Kiley said. “Some people don’t want to race other people that are better because they don’t want to get beaten. He looks forward to it and almost performs better when he has tough competition.”

This mindset was evident when Zoss broke the school’s 5K cross country record, shaving nearly 30 seconds off his previous personal best time. “He wanted that school record,” Kiley said, “and that drove him.”

Teammates alongside Zoss see the same determination every day at practice. 

2026 Cross country co-captain Noah Draper, who has trained with Zoss since freshman year, describes him as a captain who “leads by example.”According to Draper, “[Zoss] never complains. He always goes out and does the hard workouts, the hard races, and motivates other people to go out and do it too.” 

Moreover, Draper believes persistence is key to Zoss’s presence on the team: “No matter the setback, or a bad race or a bad night of sleep, [Zoss] bounces back and keeps going.” Leading his team by action as Captain of the Boys Cross Country team, Zoss never backs down or eases his effort. “He’s always giving one hundred percent,” Draper said. 

That consistency stems from the mindset Zoss carries into every race.

“In my head [during races], I tell myself to run faster because your body always has more energy to give, even when you’re hurting,” Zoss said. “So you might as well just give more.” This same internal dialogue reflects the philosophy behind his long-term goals.

While college recruitment is often the driving force behind many high school athletes, it isn’t for Zoss. “Recruiting is a benefit of running,” he said. “It’s a continuation of running. The real reason I run is because I love it so much.”

For now, Zoss’s immediate goal is lowering his mile time. However, like most runners, Zoss also aspires towards a larger dream. 

“Maybe go to the Olympics one day,” he said. “That would be really amazing. And a gold medal.”

Kiley believes these ambitions are grounded with a balance of confidence and humility. “His talent shows,” she said. “But he doesn’t take for granted his talent, and he’s always trying to see how he can do better and how he can help his team do better.” 

As Zoss prepares to step into leadership roles next school year as captain in both cross country and track, his influence already extends beyond the times and records he has broken. Leading his team by example and continuing his passion for running, Zoss inspires his teammates to push themselves to try harder things too, while his races serve as proving grounds to his relentless determination.

Moreover, in spite of his record-breaking times and endeavors, his success returns to things simpler than metals and recognition. Each race is a new opportunity offering a new goal to reach, and another chance for Zoss to see just how much further he can go.