Get to know Matthew Zammit Jr., the Blue Water Area Athlete of the Week

It's been a season of firsts for the Cardinal Mooney boys cross country team. From the Cardinals' first league championship to their first appearance at the state final, Matthew Zammit Jr. has produced at every turn.

He was voted Blue Water Area Athlete of the Week on Thursday for the week of Oct. 24-30. Zammit placed eighth and set a personal record with a time of 17:41.1 at a Division 4 regional on Oct. 28. The senior helped the Cardinals advance to the state championship meet.

The Times Herald recently caught up with Zammit to learn more about him.

Times Herlad: Have long have you been running cross country?

Matthew Zammit Jr.: I've been running cross country since the sixth grade. And I've been running (overall) since fifth grade.

TH: What makes you such a talented runner?

Zammit: I'm just very competitive. I like to try be the best, give it my all and I don't want anyone to beat me. With Tyler (Lenn) on the team, we like to go head-to-head. So that really pushes me as well.

TH: Who is your favorite athlete and why?

Zammit: I'd say Steve Prefontaine. He was a professional runner in the 1970s. I love how he had the give-it-your-all mentality and to really gut it out. He's really inspirational to me.

TH: What do you enjoy doing outside of cross country?

Zammit: I'd like to read a lot stuff about history, government and politics.

TH: What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?

Zammit: Probably the Catholic League championship meet. Because that's the meet where I felt I was finally coming back in shape. I had a stress fracture over the summer. And thought that meet was me finally coming back. I actually passed out at the finish line. So that tells me I gave it my all.

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.