Janusick repeats as state medalist, BCR runner of the year
Shades of greatness
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| Hall High School's Scott Janusick was named the 2009 BCR Runner of the Year. He was a repeat NCIC Lincoln champion, all-state medalist (14th), third at regional and fifth at sectional. |
SPRING VALLEY — For Hall junior Scott Janusick, the boys’ 2009 BCR Cross Country Runner of the Year, familiarity breeds success.
Janusick, the area’s top finisher at the 1A State Cross Country meet — coming in 14th at 15:35, said being more familiar with his surroundings at Peoria’s Detweiler Park helped him to make a big leap in the state race.
“I think it helped a lot,” Janusick said. “Getting 24th last year and then coming back and taking off 10 seconds and 10 spots for my junior year, I’m excited about that.”
“I wasn’t as nervous because I was kind of settled in,” Janusick said. “I knew more race strategy, to go out faster, so I wouldn’t get boxed in and have to work harder at the end.”
Along with being more familiar with the state course and format, Janusick said having the familiar face of fellow Hall harrier T.J. Mosbach with him at state helped keep him in his comfort zone.
“Just having T.J. in my box with me calmed me down, I wasn’t too antsy before the race,” Janusick said.
Janusick’s junior cross-country campaign also included a third-place finish at the Rock Falls regional, fifth-place finish at the Aurora Christian Sectional, and winning his second straight NCIC Lincoln title.
Not only did he best the Lincoln field at the conference meet held at Sterling Woodlawn Academy, Janusick, clad in his trademark sunglasses, also finished before all of the runners from the NCIC Reagan Division as well.
“It was really special,” Janusick said of his top overall finish. “I was the first one (Hall runner) to win the overall conference. Just to know how many runners have gone through Hall and be the first one to do that is pretty special.”
Janusick said he was motivated for a strong performance at the conference meet after having a disappointing withdrawal from Amboy’s prestigous Columbus Day Invite in his previous meet.
“I think I kind of had a chip on my shoulder. I had to prove that I could still go out and run at conference,” Janusick said.
Janusick said his extra motivation to succeed after the Amboy withdrawal helped spur on not only himself but the Red Devils’ team as well.
“We came back strong the next couple weeks,” Janusick said. “I think I kind of boosted the team up in practice; we were working harder at the end of the season.”
• Putting in the work
The path to a repeat state medal and second-straight BCR Runner of the Year award was not an easy one for Janusick, who piled up the miles during his rigorous summer workouts.
A typical distance morning would see the Hall harrier complete an eight to nine mile run, and when he “was feeling good,” Janusick would also tack on an additional three or four mile night running session.
“I did a couple of long runs during the week. Towards the middle of the week, I did more speed work and mile repeats on the track,” Janusick said.
Janusick said his determination to reach his goals provided him with the strength to put in the countless hours and miles of preparation for the season.
“It stinks to get up at six in the morning and have to go run eight or nine miles, but you roll out of bed and think that it’s all going to be paid off in November,” Janusick said.
“It’s not that hard because I’ve experienced it before,” Janusick said of his workout regimen. “I’m motivated to get up; it really doesn’t bother me to go out and run.”
Janusick said on the rare days he wasn’t able to muster up the motivation to run, his father helped push him in the right direction — toward his running shoes.
By the time the 2009 school year and cross country season was starting, Janusick says he had worked up to running around 55 miles a week.
• Eye on the future
Before his senior season of cross country kicks off, Janusick still has his junior track campaign coming up this spring. He said he is looking to focus more on the two-mile race this year, in an attempt to earn a state-medal in a second discipline.
Janusick is also setting his sights high for his upcoming senior campaign of cross country, both as an individual, and as a member of the Red Devils.
On the team side, Janusick is looking to help lead the Red Devils to a top conference finish.
“I hoping that like my freshman year, we can win conference as a team,” Janusick said. “I’m really hoping we can get over that hump we couldn’t (get over) the last two years and pick up the points we need at the end to be team champions.”
As an individual, Janusick is looking to become a three-time NCIC Lincoln champ and make even more improvement with a third-straight trip to state.
“My ultimate goal is to be state champ, but a top-five is pretty much my goal for high school,” Janusick said.
What will it take for a top-five finish at state?
“Probably the best race of my life,” Janusick chuckled. “I’ve just got to work really hard this summer. I’m confident that I can be up there, but I’ve just got to perform.”
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BCR Runners of the Year
2009 — Scott Janusick, Hall.
2008 — Scott Janusick, Hall.
2007 — Colin Mickow, Princeton
2006 — Matt Morse, St. Bede.
2005 — Matt Morse, St. Bede.
2004 — Michael Grieve, Bureau Valley.
2003 — Gene Kostman, Bureau Valley; Jeff Mills, St. Bede.
2002 — Gene Kostman, Bureau Valley.
2001 — Jason Bill, Bureau Valley.
2000 — Jason Bill, Bureau Valley.
1999 — Randy Bill, Bureau Valley.
1998 — Johnathan Eckberg, Bureau Valley.
1997 — Johnathan Eckberg, Bureau Valley.
