Antun Pavelic possesses ambitions that far exceed the lengthy distances he runs for the Varsity Blues cross country team. Now he hopes to take his determined spirit across the Atlantic and race for Croatia. His dedication on and off the tracks and trails pushes him to put injuries aside and let his competitive nature thrive.
Pavelic traces his start as a cross country runner back to his childhood in Croatia. When he moved to Canada at age 10, he continued with track and began to take running seriously a few years prior to his recruitment by current cross country coach Ross Risstuccia while in his graduating year at Michael Power/St. Joseph in Etobicoke.
“Grade 8 was when I figured out I could run for long periods of time with ease,” said Pavelic. “I joined the cross country team at my high school in 2004.”
Currently a third-year student enrolled in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, Pavelic is double-majoring in physical education and kinesiology.
“I want to become a doctor one day,” he said. “I still have some other things I’d like to get to before then.”
He hopes to compete with Croatia, the country he considers home, at the national level as opposed to Canada due to its team’s demanding criteria, which he believes is unrealistic.
Pavelic will be flying overseas next summer to scout for a cross country team he can compete with after he completes his studies at U of T.
“Canada has given me the tools to grow and excel in my sport, but their standards are ridiculous,” Pavelic said. “Canadian athletes from before my time were really good and leaders in most sports performance-wise. These standards and expectations stayed, leaving athletes like my self and even guys that are better than I out in the cold because they have just set the Olympic bar too high.”
Training at least three hours every day is how Pavelic prepares for his regular 10K cross country races and 1500 to 5000 metre track races. His current record for the 10K is 33 minutes and 40 seconds. He hopes to break it this season.
The fact that this isn’t a sport for the faint of heart should be stressed. Pavelic describes it as “10K meters of aggravating pain,” but incredibly rewarding when it’s all said and done.
“You feel accomplished when you know you ran hard and well. I like the challenge,” said Pavelic. “I don’t like when I get beat by certain people when I know I can beat them. It gets stressful but when it comes down to the championships, it feels good to know that I came out on top.”
