Elliot Batz: From 17:15 to 14:25 — Finding Confidence & Believing He Belongs
What does it take to go from simply trying out running to becoming one of the top cross-country runners in Illinois?
Rock Island senior Elliot Batz joins Ándale Run to share a journey that started after COVID, when he joined his middle-school running team without any real expectations of where the sport might take him.
A breakthrough 17:15 during his freshman year changed the way he viewed his potential. Since then, Elliot has gone on to run 14:25 at the Illinois 3A State Cross Country Championships, finishing 17th, and a 4:12 mile on the track.
But his journey hasn’t been just about getting…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.