Luca Domestico’s running journey began with a middle school gym class. Now a high school senior, the Ashland athlete has become one of the state's top runners.

“I started running in the eighth grade because of the middle school mile that we had to take part in during gym class,” Domestico said. “I seemed to run very well, and it was something that I loved doing.”

After succeeding at the middle school mile, the young Ashland runner decided to try out for the cross country team. That year he was one of four athletes (top 2 boys and top 2 girls) from Ashland, a school on the  Boston Marathon route, selected to take part in the BAA Middle School 1K on Marathon Monday. Domestico happened to be the winner of the boys' race. 

“I went into that race with no expectations at all,” he said. “To come out with the win not only boosted my confidence, but I believe it was the kick start to my running career.”

Having won the BAA Middle School race, Domestico was primed to try out for the high school varsity team later that year when he entered Ashland High School. Since becoming a varsity athlete with the Clockers, Domestico has run for the cross country team for four years and for the indoor and outdoor track teams for three years. As a freshman running the 5K for the Ashland cross country team, he was able to post a personal best time of 17:19. 

That freshman time was something that the young runner thought was better than anything that he could have ever imagined, and now as he enters his senior season, he has a personal best time of 15:58, which he recorded last fall as a junior. However, he plans to break that personal best this season. When he lines up for the 5K Twilight Invitational on the Cape (October 10), Domestico plans to lower his personal best.

Last year, as a junior, he qualified for All-States in cross country as well as during the indoor track season. To get to the All-States, Domestico captured the TVL Championship in the 1000-meter race during the indoor season. Unfortunately, the junior didn’t do as well as he felt he could have at both the cross country and indoor All-State Meet.

The All-States weren't up to his standard; Domestico redeemed himself during the outdoor track season and qualified for the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, to run the steeple chase. The steeple chase is a race that requires runners to clear physical barriers as well as water hazards as they run.

Domestico qualified for the chance to go to Oregon at the Western Twilight Invitational, where he needed to race faster than a 6:40; he secured a time of 6:19 and a trip to the Nike Nationals.

“It was a great feeling,” the Ashland runner said. “The biggest thrill was being the first male distance runner from Ashland to do so; hopefully it opens the door for more Ashland runners to qualify in the future.”

This year, in his final season with the Ashland cross country team, the Clockers are chasing the Tri-Valley League Title, something Hopkinton has captured over the last few years. 

“Hopkinton has kept us out of the top spot, and we really want it this year,” he said. “The team is working extremely hard and all working at that one goal to win the Championship.”

In addition to the team TVL Championship, Domestico hopes his hard work will pay off this fall, and he can come away with the individual TVL Championship as well. He feels that it is within his sight if he continues to be consistent with his training.

Early in the season, Domestico raced with his teammates in the Frank Kelley Invitational at the Wrentham Developmental Center in Wrentham. The race is just under two miles, and the Clocker runner crossed the finish line in third place, feeling he started off too fast; although he didn’t win, he still had fun.

According to coach John Brinegar, the senior is continuously improving, and his third-place finish in the 3000-meter race in Wrentham was his personal best in the event with a time of 9:45.

At the time of this writing, the senior currently finds himself undefeated running cross country in the TVL and hopes that he can continue the feat throughout the rest of the season.

“It’s been a pretty good feeling so far. The only race I really had to run hard and put forth a strong effort was against Hopkinton,” Domestico said. “We lost that race, but we are looking to beat them at the TVL Championships later in the year.”

While the cross country season is still in session and the seniors’ indoor and outdoor seasons with the track team are still on the horizon, he would eventually like to take his running to the next level.

“I really would love to run track and cross country in college, but it's still a little too early to be thinking about where I want to go,” he said. “Right now, it really doesn’t matter where I get to run in college as long as I get a chance to do so.”

In order to make the jump to the collegiate level, Domestico believes that he needs to continue to listen to his coaches as well as the advice his teammates throw his way. He also believes he needs to stay accountable and do the little things well.

According to Brinegar, Domestico still has a handful of important races on the docket in addition to finishing out the regular season. Domestico will have a shot at winning the TVL Championships in early November and then will look to finish in the top 10 of the Divisional 2 Sectionals on 11/14. If he does well at the Sectionals, then on 11/21 he has a shot at the All-State Championship.

“He could very well come away with all three championships,” the Ashland Coach said. “At this time, he is currently one of the top three runners in the Tri-Valley League.”