Zach Zarda

Class: Senior Hometown: Shawnee, Kan. High School: Maranatha Academy

Height: 5-11 Event: Distance

2011 CROSS COUNTRY
Had his most successful season as a Jayhawk, finishing in the team's top two in each of the five meets he competed in... Notched his first career victory at the Bob Timmons Classic, finishing the 6K with a time of 19:11.30... Was the team's top finisher at the Roy Griak Invitational (9/24), placing 38th overall with an 8K time of 24:49.90... Took 43rd at the Big 12 Championships (10/29), completing the 8K in 24:58.5... Was the Jayhawks' second scorer at the NCAA Midwest Regionals (11/12), finishing with a 10K time of 32:12.17 to place 34th overall... Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

2011 OUTDOOR
Set a personal-best 14:32.10 in the 5,000 meters at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships (5/15), finishing 14^th... Notched a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meters at the Kansas Relays (4/21), crossing the finish line in 14:51.40.

2010 OUTDOOR
Competed in the 5,000 meters at the Big 12 Championships (5/16) and set a personal record time of 14:34.35, finishing 15^th... Ran a personal best of 4:01.12 in the 1,500 meters and finished in sixth at the John McDonnell Invitational (4/9)... Selected to Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

2010 INDOOR
Competed in the 3,000 meters at the Big 12 Championships (2/26), finishing 28^th with a time of 8:28.65... Set his personal best in the mile at the ISU-NCAA Qualifier (3/5) with a time of 4:20.13... Finished fifth in the 3,000 meters at the Husker Invitational, setting a personal record of 8:24.01... Highest finish of the season came at the Bill Easton Classic (1/8) in the 3,000 meters, finishing second and recording a time of 8:38.62.

2009 CROSS COUNTRY
Was one of four sophomores to compete in all six meets for the Crimson and Blue... Finished second on the team and third overall at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge (9/12) with an 8K time of 26:11.20... Turned in a career-best 8K time of 25:47.60 at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree (10/3)... Competed in his first collegiate 10K race at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships (11/14), posting an impressive time of 32:35.50 to finish third for the Jayhawks and 52^nd overall... Selected as a member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

2009 OUTDOOR
Utilized redshirt season.

2009 INDOOR
Utilized redshirt season.

2008 CROSS COUNTRY
Competed in five of six races as a true freshman... Finished eighth as an unattached runner in his debut at the Bob Timmons Classic with a personal-best 8K time of 25:59.90... Named Big 12 Runner of the Week (9/13) after leading the Jayhawks and placing sixth overall at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge in an 8K time of 27:12.87... Placed 62nd at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree in an 8K time of 26:16... Recorded a 58th-place finish at the Big 12 Championships after running the 8K race in 26:15.08.

HIGH SCHOOL
Three-year letterman in cross country, track and soccer... Three-time all-state selection for cross country (2005-07)... Kansas 2A cross country state runner-up in 2007... MVP of his cross country team as a senior in 2007... Received First Team All-Metro (Kansas City) honors in 2007... Earned academic all-state three times (2005-07)... Third place at Kansas 2A cross country state championships in 2006... Finished ninth at the Kansas 3A cross country state championships in 2005... 2A state champion in track in the 3,200 meters and the 1,600 meters (2008)... Kansas 2A state-record holder in the 3,200 meters... Named most valuable runner for track in 2006 and 2008... Member of state champion soccer team in 2004... Made two other appearances at the state soccer tournament (2005 and 2006), helping his team to third and fourth-place finishes, respectively.

PERSONAL
Son of Bernie and Karen Zarda... Born in Shawnee, Kan... Valedictorian of his high school class... Majoring in business.