SPORTS STORIES:
SPORTS INFORMATION—2009
JEROSKI READY FOR THIRD UAA CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE YEAR...
CLEVELAND, OH (April 21, 2009) - Whether she’s running across a hilly terrain or on an indoor track, sophomore Justine Jeroski’s (Murrysville, PA) success has always been measured in seconds. Now in only her second year on campus she has become an All-American and University Athletic Association [UAA] champion and has created even more separation from the pack.
Jeroski achieved cross country’s top honor last November when she became an All-American at the NCAA Championships by placing 28th [279 runners] in 21:35.40. But as the cross country season came to an end the indoor track and field season began and Jeroski had to switch gears and get reacquainted to the quicker pace.
“In cross country, you are standing at the starting line with 250 other people. And every course has its own terrain which makes each race unique,” said Jeroski. “With track you know everyone’s best times and you know what people can do. You have to be quick and you have to kick hard at the end.”
In January at the Spartan Relays, which is indoor track and field’s opening event, Jeroski won the 3,000 meter run in a then- personal best time of 10:19.24, which was 14 seconds quicker than the second place finisher. Then at the UAA Championships in March she improved in the 3,000 meter run by 13 seconds, winning an individual championship in the event [10:06.14] as well as winning the 5,000 meter run [17:35.20]. Her dominance at the meet earned her UAA Runner of the Year honors.
“I knew I was going to do well at the UAA Championships,” she said. “For me, the bigger deal the meet is the better I do because I get psyched up to help my team win. I might be a little nervous at the starting line, but as soon as I hear the gun go off all that pressure is gone. Even though someone may be a higher seed than me going into the race I never stand at the line thinking I can’t win.”
It is that attitude that has made her a favorite this weekend at the outdoor season’s UAA Championship meet at Carnegie Mellon University. Click here for more information. Despite coming down with a recent illness, Jeroski is still expected to compete in the steeplechase on Saturday and the 5,000 meter run on Sunday. While Jeroski’s health may play a factor in her quest to win another individual conference championship, her training has never been in question.
Jeroski runs an average of 45 miles every week during the year, which includes individual runs as long as 13 miles. And despite her demanding schedule as a student-athlete at Case Western Reserve she has made it a priority to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
“I was a pretty good runner in high school, but I keep getting better,” she said. “Back then I didn’t train as much as I do now. I didn’t run as much in the offseason. Plus, having teammates here with so much skill has really pushed me to get better. I couldn’t be where I am at without my teammates.”
Jeroski comes from a family full of engineers, so it was an easy choice for her to get involved in biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve. She is concentrating on biomechanics, which could lead to careers in prosthetics, imaging, pacemakers, or any other physiological careers that can help the human body.
She keeps busy outside the classroom as well as a member of the Case Association of Student Athletes [CASA] and as a participant in Case for Community Day where the University’s student-athletes put on a sports clinic for local youth. It seems whatever Jeroski puts her mind to she always runs full speed ahead.
“I’m always happy and upbeat, it helps me do the things I want to do,” she said. “I always like to get excited before I run. I feel like when you are excited to do something your energy levels will be higher than everyone else and then you will succeed.”
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