There is another promising future star on the rise. Karlin Janowski gives a glimpse of how she is at the Harvey Braus Lake Park Invite.
At York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, whenever a talented youngster is on the varsity team, it is not an accident; it's intentional.
If you are fortunate enough to take a trip down memory lane inside the hollowed hallways inside the Dukes running shrine, you may see the imprint that Jim White, Donald Sage, Marius Bakken, Ron Craker, and Sean McNamara left on the boy's side. More specifically, on the girls side, Maria Cicero, Mary Driscoll, and Emma Fisher are the foremost names.
Now it's time to insert Karlin Janowski into the fold. She could be the next one.
A true freshman, Janowski is practically a veteran in the Lady Dukes program. "She has been with us since the summers of 7th grade and has progressed steadily--until now when she just took off," said enthusiastic coach Lauren DeAngelis.
Janowski ranks No. 3 on the all-time three-mile school list with a time of 16:52, which she recently achieved at the Harvey Braus Lake Park Invitational. She has won two of three contests; her only loss was to fellow underclassman Mia Sirois (So., Barrington) at the St. Charles East Leavy Invitational.
Winning races is great, but being a good team player is better. "Karlin is entertaining, witty, and curious," said De Angelis. "She has had a positive impact on this program, and everyone has embraced her--most of the girls are watching over her like a little sister! She appreciates all her teammates and adds lots of humor to our runs!"
Laughter and having fun are essential to becoming a well-rounded athlete, especially in one of the most challenging cross-country leagues in the country, the West Suburban Conference (Silver). Recent freshmen phenoms from the WSC have done well in their initial seasons: Katelynne Hart (Glenbard West), Alexa Haff (Hinsdale Central), Mary Blankenmeier (Oak Park-River Forest), and Lindsey Payne (Glenbard West) were atop the food chain. Hart won state in her initial season.
Time will tell how well Janowski will fare over the long haul, but having full support from her coach is crucial to success. De Angelis: "Right now, I want to help her continue learning about the sport and ensure she is having fun while staying healthy. She is one of the most coachable athletes and always asks great questions!"