ALL-AMERICAN Freshman makes Hillsdale history
Jagielski ran to an All-American title, No. 2-ranked freshman at NCAA National Championships
Andrew Dodson
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Sports
All season long, no distance was too long, no temperature too cold, no challenge to steep. In the biggest race of his young collegiate career, freshman Tim Jagielski proved to the country he will be the force to reckon with in his remaining three years of collegiate running.
Jagielski placed 42nd overall, but was the 28th true American at the NCAA National Championships in Slippery Rock, Penn., on Nov. 22, earning him All-American honors. Jagielski's finish proves positive for the future because he was the second overall true freshman in the race.
At championship cross country races, all non-American athletes are counted for team scoring, but not for individual All-American honors, due to the high amount of Kenyan runners competing. Cross country is the only NCAA sport that negates foreign runners from earning All-American honors, so the NCAA will change the rule next season to the top thirty finishers, regardless of citizenship.
Jagielski is Hillsdale's first freshman All-American since current junior sprinter Jared Krout earned two All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships his freshman year in 2007. He is, however, Hillsdale's first freshman All-American for cross country.
"It is pretty exciting to earn the All-American honors this season," said Jagielski. "I just wanted to run as hard as possible in the poor weather conditions and see what would happen. Going into the race, the coaches said earning All-American was possible, but I just wasn't sure and just needed to run my race."
Weather was not ideal for Jagielski's 10,000 meters of running with 32:18 finish. Snow dusted the course, making it slippery at times. Sub-freezing winds also cut into the faces of the competitors.
About halfway through the race, teammates and coaches saw Jagielski in a state where it appeared he might not be able to finish the race.
"At that halfway point, I was feeling really tired, but right when I saw all my teammates who made the drive to watch me run cheering me on, I got this extra boost of energy for the finish," said Jagielski.
At the finish, runners go through a big wooden castle on a slight uphill slope. Two runners passed Jagielski on the homestretch, but he held off three approaching runners to seal his finish. It wasn't until an hour after the race when head coach Bill Lundberg found out from official race results that Jagielski made the top thirty.
"What an exciting time in Slippery Rock. Timmy performed so well," said Lundberg. "He proved he is a super-frosh. It has been a great cross country season and we are geared up for the indoor track season."
With the end of the cross country season comes the beginning of the indoor track and field season, leaving minimal time for rest and recovery. Jagielski enjoyed a week of rest but will open up his first collegiate indoor track season Saturday at the University of Findlay, where he will run the mile.
Jagielski placed 42nd overall, but was the 28th true American at the NCAA National Championships in Slippery Rock, Penn., on Nov. 22, earning him All-American honors. Jagielski's finish proves positive for the future because he was the second overall true freshman in the race.
At championship cross country races, all non-American athletes are counted for team scoring, but not for individual All-American honors, due to the high amount of Kenyan runners competing. Cross country is the only NCAA sport that negates foreign runners from earning All-American honors, so the NCAA will change the rule next season to the top thirty finishers, regardless of citizenship.
Jagielski is Hillsdale's first freshman All-American since current junior sprinter Jared Krout earned two All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships his freshman year in 2007. He is, however, Hillsdale's first freshman All-American for cross country.
"It is pretty exciting to earn the All-American honors this season," said Jagielski. "I just wanted to run as hard as possible in the poor weather conditions and see what would happen. Going into the race, the coaches said earning All-American was possible, but I just wasn't sure and just needed to run my race."
Weather was not ideal for Jagielski's 10,000 meters of running with 32:18 finish. Snow dusted the course, making it slippery at times. Sub-freezing winds also cut into the faces of the competitors.
About halfway through the race, teammates and coaches saw Jagielski in a state where it appeared he might not be able to finish the race.
"At that halfway point, I was feeling really tired, but right when I saw all my teammates who made the drive to watch me run cheering me on, I got this extra boost of energy for the finish," said Jagielski.
At the finish, runners go through a big wooden castle on a slight uphill slope. Two runners passed Jagielski on the homestretch, but he held off three approaching runners to seal his finish. It wasn't until an hour after the race when head coach Bill Lundberg found out from official race results that Jagielski made the top thirty.
"What an exciting time in Slippery Rock. Timmy performed so well," said Lundberg. "He proved he is a super-frosh. It has been a great cross country season and we are geared up for the indoor track season."
With the end of the cross country season comes the beginning of the indoor track and field season, leaving minimal time for rest and recovery. Jagielski enjoyed a week of rest but will open up his first collegiate indoor track season Saturday at the University of Findlay, where he will run the mile.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jennifer Langston
posted 12/04/08 @ 10:23 PM EST
Tim Jagielski is a true All-American. I am a teacher at Waldron Area Schools...Tim's stopping grounds....He is a very goal oriented and hard working young man. (Continued…)
Post a Comment