Judy Pendergast in battle at the Roy Griak Invite where she finished second (Roger Brandel photo)
Athletes come and athletes go... so shall Judy Pendergast. But before she fades off into bigger and better things, she is going to make you remember her for a very long time. Pendergast is a senior superstar in the making at Naperville North High School. You will all get a glimpse into Judy momentarily. Here are the opening words by her Hall of Fame elected coach Dan Iverson:
Judy is a very determined athlete. She went through some growing pains in her sophomore year, and early into her junior year. Additionally, she was diagnosed with allergies to dairy and gluten. As she adjusted to her new diet, her already-rigorous training routines were better able to have their desired effects -- she just felt better. You can see those results as she progressed towards the top of our team last fall, then to the top of the state last spring. And now, she has taken even a step forward from there. She continues to adapt to her new levels of training, and the results are there for you to see. Long story short, her dedication and her physical readiness to accept a high level of training are simply meshing right now and the results are pretty impressive. As for my role? I just write her workouts, so I'd say I have a pretty limited role in her success. This is all her. It's fun to watch, though.
We have had some really good runners. Lisa [Bonistalli] and Shannon Phelan were both state runners-up and we have had many all-staters, but obviously, we have had no one at this level. Of course, we want her to finish the year in some degree of style, but regardless of what she accomplishes this year, we hope it will be a stepping stone to much bigger things as she proceeds past high school and into college. We will see where she stacks up against the best in Illinois this year or ever once all is said and done. For now, I think she just wants to see us as a team succeed, and we have our work cut out for us!
Your head coach Dan Iverson essentially gave you a standing ovation when asked what it has been like to coach you and the sort. Can you tell us what it is like being coached by such a great architect of high school running?
Not everyone is fortunate enough to go through high school with such a good program, so I feel truly lucky to have had such a great coach like Iverson. He is not only extremely dedicated to the sport, but to our growth and health as individuals. I think that many people can agree that the accomplishments that Iverson has reached as a coach can speak for themselves, but I think that people can also agree that he is an awesome person as well. He makes practice fun, but he also knows how to get the job done!
Your rise to stardom has taken a non traditional route in that you didn't start out blazing like most freshman (although you finished 23rd and ran 17:09 for 3m). How were you to buck the odds of decline and actually improve beyond belief?
Throughout high school I have definitely had my fair share of setbacks or moments of doubt, but every year I worked harder and harder to reach my targets. Yes, most times I fell short of them, but it has made me more determined every year to keep on pushing. Over this past year I think I have found a confidence while racing that wasn't there before, and it has allowed me to train faster as well. So, while some of my improvement is just due to the ability to do faster training, there was also a huge mental component that has just sort of clicked this year.
Let's dive back into last school year. What was the defining moment that led to a wonderful calendar year that ultimately ended with a state championship in the 3200m?
My Junior season was absolutely one to remember. Being State Champions during XC season and then going into NXN and coming out with a fourth place team finish was absolutely incredible. I don't know if there was a particular moment that changed everything, but if there had to be one, it would most likely be NXN. To see the culmination of all my team's hard work was something that definitely made me want to work harder throughout track and this past year in general. Building off of that, I also think that every day in practice when I see my teammates work so hard, it motivates me to keep pushing. I believe that was a valuable factor in my success as well.
Now for this current season, you have been simply masterful and on course do something very special like break 16:00 for three miles. Your coach indicated "absolutely she has the ability to do it." Is breaking 16:00 on a list of things that you would like to do in xc? What other goals do you have for this season?
I'm really proud of my season so far, and I cannot wait to get out on the course over the next couple weeks to see what I am capable of. As far as reaching certain times, I do have some targets in mind, but I will honestly be pleased with anything as long as I know I gave my best effort. The times and places come and go, but the effort is something that I will remember for a very long time. Plus, I can't be upset with my performance if I know I gave it my all. Going off of this, however, I definitely have some targets for the next couple meets, and I'm very eager to see if all of my hard work has paid off!
It's all smiles for the Naperville North crew that qualified for NXN in 2014 (Photo by Colin Boyle)
We remember you and your teammates from last year's Nike Cross Nationals. Although the Lady Huskies appeared to be more laid back and reserved vs. some of the other teams that were in Portland, you and your teammates participated in all of the Nike activities. What is being a team leader like for one of America's best teams?
I am so proud of my team every year, but this year has been different in a good way. Being a senior comes with its perks and downfalls, but one of the major highlights for me has been being a captain for this incredible team. The girls are so dedicated to the sport and it is inspiring to see them working out every day. Not only are they hard-workers, but they have become my best friends. They make practice more enjoyable and I can't imagine what it would be like to not have this team. Heading into championship season, we are very excited to see what we are capable of. It has been an amazing four years at Naperville North, and I'm so thankful for this team.
What goals do you have for track?
I'm pretty focused on cross country right now, so track hasn't really crossed my mind recently. I would hope that I could work on lowering my PR's, but, for right now, I think I'm just going to keep my attention on the end of the cross country season, and then work on track from there!
Harvard is one of the world's premier universities. How did you arrive at the final decision that this was your school of choice? What are you planning on studying and what are your career goals after competitive running is over?
It was definitely a difficult process to decide on a college. There are so many good options for both running and education, but, ultimately, I felt very "at home" when I was at Harvard. Their education is obviously second-to-none, but I am also very excited for where their cross country and track program is headed. Overall, through a lot of consideration, I decided on Harvard because of the all-around experience that I had while I was there. The education is amazing, the running program is improving exponentially, and the girls on the team were so awesome and friendly! I felt very comfortable and thrilled with my decision! In terms of my intended major, frankly, right now, I have absolutely no idea. I am more interested in English or Social Studies as opposed to Math or Science, but other than that, I'm open to anything. I think that it's definitely a benefit to go in undecided because then I can truly investigate my interests! It's all a process and I'm eager to start it.
What does Judy like to do for fun away from the track?
When I'm not running, I have many other extracurricular activities and hobbies [that i'm involved in]. I am pretty involved in Student Government in my school, so planning events for that takes up some of my time.. Young Life (a Christian organization) and small groups at my church are also very important to me. In terms of my hobbies, I love to cook and bake, as well as draw and paint. Finally, I think it's just fun to hang out with my friends and watch Netflix or just goof off.
When not in season, what is your favorite vice? It can be food or something you don't normally partake in.
Hmmm.. I would have to say that I love the Voodoo Donuts at NXN. You can only get them in Portland, so when we finish our race, I am usually the first one to rush over to the Donut truck and stand in line! :)
Once again congratulations on your college decision. Obviously it is one of the most important decisions and investments that you will ever make in your life.
- 800m (in) - 2:17.05
- 1600m (in) - 5:00.15
- 1600m - 4:56.53
- 3200m (in) - 10:49.87
- 3200m - 10:34.55
- 4K (xc) - 15:28.00
- 3 Mile (xc) - 16:05.50
- 5K (xc) - 17:46.00
