Senior Max Lustick (Olivette, Mo., Ladue Horton Watkins HS) was the "Most Valuable Performer" for 2011 Illinois Wesleyan men's track team and has been a four-year letterman for the IWU cross country team. He finished seventh in the 2012 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin indoor meet with a time of 4:19.53.
In 2011 he was third in the 1500 (3:55.44) and ninth in the 800 (1:59.72) at the CCIW outdoor meet and was seventh in the mile run (4:20.53) and fifth in the 3000 (8:42.63) at the CCIW indoor meet.
A psychology major at Illinois Wesleyan, he is the son of Sharon and Denis Lustick.
Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: I was looking for a small liberal arts college where I could get the best education I could and still be able to pay for it … eventually. I found that the cross country and track teams were at a level where I could participate, grow, and eventually work my way up to being a key performer.
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: "Human Sexuality"
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: All of the groupies
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? "Chemistry in the Kitchen" during May term freshman year. I didn’t learn the chemistry but I could bake a stellar cake.
Most expensive traffic ticket: I’ve never been caught.
Language I’d like to learn: Japanese
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: I could do without my phone. I would just use email and facebook more often to compensate.
Your usual response to “What’s going on?”: “Good.”
Favorite sports figure: Emil Zatopek (pictured at right) was the winner of the 5K, 10K, and marathon gold medals in the 1952 summer Olympics. That marathon was actually his first and he decided to run it at the last minute. All three of those races set world record times.
My greatest moment in sports was: At conference last year, we had five men qualify for the finals of the 800 meter all within a second of each other. When half the final race was IWU runners, it was a powerful statement for how far our team has come in the last few years and the level of work we have put in.
The best player I ever faced was: Last year, Mike Spain of North Central, a three-time national champion in the 5K and 10K meter events, decided he could also run the Mile/1500 pretty fast. I only beat him once after he had already raced a 10K.
Worst dresser on my team: Bobbie Rachford.
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: Snack Packs are the only thing in my fridge.
Vegetable I won’t eat: Beets.
Pepsi or Coke?: I don’t always drink soda, but when I do I mix Coke and Orange Fanta.
Favorite TV show: Well, if I had to pick one, I’d choose "Dexter". Other favorites are "Game of Thrones", "How I Met Your Mother", "Scrubs", "Californication", and "Futurama".
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Adrien Brody has the right look. I’m not too picky though; Christian Bale, Edward Norton, Liam Neeson, Tom Cruise, and Gerard Butler would also be acceptable.
My dream job would be: Novelist
Place I’d most like to live: Boulder, Colo.
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: My signed copy of "Twilight"
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Having a designated time to play Oregon Trail and Storybook Weaver (on floppies)
