Janiuk earns NCAA Championship berth with runner-up performance

Saturday, November 9

Lock Haven, PA

11:45 AM

Millersville University

NCAA Atlantic Regional

Janiuk earns NCAA Championship berth with runner-up performance

11/9/2024 12:19:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Results

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - From the start of the season in August, Andy Young and the Millersville women's cross country team had sights set on this day. Every decision and every workout was geared toward preparing the Marauders for the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship at Lock Haven. The plan worked as senior Morgan Janiuk came within one second of the school record and finished as the race's runner-up, punching her ticket to the NCAA Division II Championship.

Janiuk's 20.42.4 was just steps behind hall of famer Priscilla Jennings' record that was set in 2009. In doing so, she became the first Marauder since hall of famer Elicia Anderson in 2010 to qualify for the national championship meet.

"I think this was something that was in the back of (Morgan's) mind for a couple of years now," said Young. "She's spent a lot of time rebuilding her confidence and getting stronger as an athlete. To see an athlete who works really hard and puts their heart and soul into it, it's satisfying to see."

See you in Sacramento! Morgan Janiuk is the NCAA Atlantic Regional runner-up and has qualified for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship! #RollVille pic.twitter.com/K125D1wpLQ
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) November 9, 2024

The course at Lock Haven is notoriously fast, so the Marauders spent the bulk of the 2024 fall season working on their speed and training on flat ground. The race played out exactly as expected with the top five runners all clocking in at under 21 minutes. Six of Millersville's seven runners set personal-best times, and all six are top-20 times in Millersville history. Anticipating the speed of the race, Janiuk planned to run at the front from the start. She stayed in the lead group from the gun and separated in the final mile. She placed seven seconds behind Slippery Rock's Anna Igims and six seconds ahead of Leigha Hall of West Virginia Wesleyan and Beth Sykes of Charleston.

"The race went exactly like she wanted it to go," said Young. "She got to the front, and went out real fast. The course is super flat and super fast. She was in the top10 for the first couple miles and people started dropping off. With 800 (yards) to go she was in fourth. Somehow she got up to second. She has great leg speed, and she used it. She ran the race right, because at the end, she didn't have anything left."

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With her finish, Janiuk extends her career for one more race. It is the eighth time since 1988 that as a Marauder has qualified for nationals as an individual runner. It is only the fourth time since 1995. The championship race is Nov. 23 at Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, Calif.

Janiuk also paced the Marauders to an eighth-place finish in the 22-team field. Millersville finished with 211 points--just seven points out of sixth. Bri Pollock took 38th place with a time of 22:19.3, a time that moved her up to eighth in Millersville history. Olivia Sunderland ran third on the team and 49th overall in 22:31.6. Hannah Sweda clocked in a 22:43.8 for 62nd, and Marissa Mounce rounded out Millersville's top five in 74th with a time of 22:58.