Janiuk finishes as PSAC runner-up, Marauders place sixth

Saturday, October 26

Kutztown, PA

11:15 AM

Millersville University

PSAC Championship

Photo by: Chris Sponagle/Kutztown University

Janiuk finishes as PSAC runner-up, Marauders place sixth

10/26/2024 11:54:00 AM | Women's Cross Country

Results

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Morgan Janiuk ran in the strides of Millersville University Athletics Hall of Famers Saturday. She finished as the PSAC Championship runner-up, the best placement by a Marauder since 2010, and led the team to sixth place. Sophomore Bri Pollock also earned an All-PSAC honor by placing 20th.

Races like Janiuk ran on Saturday were just why she returned for her fifth season at Millersville. Janiuk is now a two-time All-PSAC First Team performer with two top-10 finishes, joining the likes of Millersville greats Priscilla Jennings (2006-09), Erin Carey (1994, 1996), Jo Rupp (1992-95), Brenda Pennell (1993, 1995-96), Mary Zerby (1991-92), and Kellie Boozer (1988-90).

"I'm really excited," said Janiuk. "I couldn't have gotten to this point without the encouragement of my teammates and the energy we bring to practice and meets. I was doing it for them. Anytime it was difficult or hard, I thought of my teammates. I'm proud of the way I finished because two years ago, I collapsed with 100 meters left and crawled across the finish line. Going from that to today is something to be proud of."

Janiuk is only the fourth Marauder in the last 30 years to finish second or higher at the PSAC Championship. All three runners--Jennings, Elicia Anderson (2010), and Rupp, have already been inducted into Millersville's hall of fame.

XC: Morgan Janiuk has finished as the PSAC runner-up! It is the best finish by a Marauder since 2010. https://t.co/mu1Lhv9Xnl pic.twitter.com/ThdpK20XRp
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) October 26, 2024

"For a kid like that to walk on to the team and get to this level is a testament to her work ethic," said Millersville head coach Andy Young. "I'm proud to be apart of helping her get there. She wasn't really recruited a whole lot and to get to that type of level in our conference is not an easy feat. She had that unfinished feeling after the last couple of years."

Champion Anna Igims of Slippery Rock, who has been the top Division II runner in every meet this season, posted a time of 21:26.5. Janiuk crossed the finish line exactly one second behind her previous personal record, which ranks fifth in Millersville history, but she considers Saturday's 21:58.1 her best.

"This course is quite hilly, and my PR came at Lock Haven, which is very flat," said Janiuk. "It is exciting because Lock Haven is where (the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship) is. It was really cool to run under 22 minutes here."

Janiuk's strategy worked to perfection. She started quickly, stuck with the lead pack, waited for her moment and pulled away.

"She's been training awesome," said Young. "She wanted to hang around the front of the pack and felt great after the first mile. She was holding back the whole race until the final 400 meters, and she dropped the hammer. She has more in the tank for next week."

Janiuk out-ran Slippery Rock's Ruthie Hughes by two seconds, and Bloomsburg's Kelly Selheimer by six. Janiuk and Igims were the only runners to crack the 22-minute mark.

Pollock posted a time of 23:18, finishing out of 15th place by just five seconds. It is the first All-PSAC performance for the sophomore.

"Bri had a strong race today," said Young. "She has more there for future races. that's exciting for our team."

Millersville matched its sixth-place finish from 2023, making it back-to-back top-10 finishes for the first time since 2009-10. Hannah Sweda placed 38th in 23:51.3. Marissa Mounce finished in 42nd at 24:07.4, and Olivia Sunderland rounded out the top five in 50th at 24:14.5.

"Team wise we finished where we were ranked coming in," said Young. "We hoped for a little better but didn't quite get connected with each other as well as we should have. We didn't hold it together as mentally as well as we have in other races. The great thing is that in two weeks we get to go after the same teams and try to execute better."

Slippery Rock won the team championship for the second season in a row. The Rock's 70 points edged Shippensburg's 88. Millersville finished with 151.

UP NEXT
The Marauders compete at the NCAA Atlantic Regional on Nov. 9. Janiuk's finish on Saturday puts her in the mix to be the first Marauder since 2010 to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Millersville needs a top-three finish to qualify as a team for the first time since 1999.