CLEVELAND — Trey Razanauskas believes in betting on himself.

And he's winning.

The 2017 Seneca Valley graduate has developed into a cross country standout at Case Western Reserve University, setting the program's 8-kilometer record time of 24 minutes, 36 seconds during a meet this season at Oberlin.

“My goal coming into this season was to break 24:30 and I still believe I can do that,” Razanauskas said. “Cross country records are tricky because the courses you run are so different.

“I love setting goals for myself and betting on myself to get there.”

He's been doing that for a while now.

Razanauskas ran for the Seneca Valley cross country team that placed second in the WPIAL meet his junior year. The team's goal was to win the WPIAL team championship his senior year and that was accomplished.

From there, he went to Washington & Jefferson College and planned to run cross country there.

“I love the competition that comes with running,” he said. “The Presidents' Athletic Conference isn't very strong in cross country. I decided to go up a level from there, give myself a more competitive chance.

“Case Western has a strong cross country program in a good league (University Athletic Association). I knew I'd be pushed there. I believed I could handle it.”

Running has been a big part of his family history, after all. Razanauskas has an aunt — Autumn Perry — who has run numerous marathons. His older brother, Andrew, ran cross country at Seneca Valley and at Saint Vincent College.

His sister, Maura, competed in the sport in high school as well.

“I just followed in line,” Razanauskas said.

Besides setting the Case Western Reserve record this season, Razanauskas won the Inter-Regional Rumble in October. That event featured 39 teams and 339 runners.

He became first team All-UAA when he placed fifth out of 75 runners at Schenley Park recently at the conference championship meet.

Razanauskas is competing with his team in the Great Lakes Regional Championships Saturday in Grand Rapids, Mich. The top two teams in that meet automatically qualify for the Division III National Championship meet Nov. 23 in Louisville, Ky.

“I'm confident our team can finish in the top two,” Razanauskas said. “There are 16 at-large team spots that are handed out nationally, too. We would have a shot at one of those.”

The top seven runners at the regional on teams that did not advance also qualify for nationals.

“I feel like I can take it,” Razanauskas said of the regional meet. “Again, I'm betting on myself. My goal is to be an All-American this year. That would require a top-40 individual finish at nationals.

“I believe I can finish among the top 10.”

Razanauskas carries a 4.0 grade point average as an economics and philosophy major at Case Western.

He doesn't see himself as being cocky — merely confident.

“It took a while for running to be cultivated in me,” Razanauskas admitted. “I didn't have the passion for it when I first started.

“Now I love the competition and I love pushing myself. Setting goals and achieving them are what I'm all about.”

Don't bet against him.