Boys cross country: Lake Zurich senior Loftus has lofty goals for this season

Lake Zurich senior boys cross country runner Kevin Loftus has a lot going for himself.

Loftus, a co-captain on the team with Danny Burns, is part of a Bears squad that won the North Suburban Conference title and finished seventh at the de facto state meet (COVID-19 canceled the IHSA state meet) a year ago. Loftus is one of three returning all-NSC performers for coach JB Hanson.

But Loftus said success is best shared in larger doses.

"We want to defend our conference title," he said. "Conference is always the highest priority. State is a big one, but conference is a place where everyone on the team can show how they have improved. It's a time where the frosh-soph, JV and varsity can show what they have done. It's very inspiring to watch the other races besides the varsity at conference. It's a showcase for the whole program."

A thought process like that explains the co-captain designation.

Loftus also keeps himself plenty busy away from the course. He's been playing the piano for 14 years - classical and jazz specifically, though the jazz part of it came along more recently. Loftus noted he takes lessons privately and practices every day. His favorite song to play right now comes from the famed Chopin.

And recently he made his first live jazz appearance, subbing in for his instructor for a 20-minute stint at the Anvil Club in East Dundee.

Loftus started running cross country in seventh grade after his dad helped him get through his first 5K run in fifth grade. "Ever since I have enjoyed it and have done really well," he said.

So has Loftus' twin sister, Kristin, part of the Lake Zurich girls cross country team. Kevin Loftus was born first, by less than a minute. Lake Zurich girls coach Jeremy Kauffman believes Kristin Loftus will be one of the state's breakout runners this fall after a sixth-place sectional showing in 2020.

"It's interesting. She didn't start the same year I did," he explained. "She was playing basketball that year and the team was really big so she wasn't getting a lot of playing time. She saw I was having fun and after that season she decided to join. It's a good thing we are in the same sport. It helps us keep motivated. She's had a lot of success and I think there is a lot more to come for her."

Loftus said there is more success to come for the Bears boys team this fall.

"We have a pretty good team," he said. "We all have stayed motivated throughout the last 18 months during these COVID times. Our training is up and we had a good summer. It's looking like we will have a good season. We need to keep working as a team. One of our strengths is this is a very close-knit team. We play off each other well and help motivate each other and bring each other up. We help each other get better, which is what you need as a team. This is a family. We train together every day and we have the same goals, and that's something that will help us now and in life. If you work hard over time it pays off. You can see the fruits of your labor."