Jan takes break from hoops, wins Jingle Run 5K

Jan takes break from hoops, wins Jingle Run 5K
Mickey edges Martz to lead field of 70

By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com

FORT ASHBY, W.Va., Dec. 12 -- Fresh off a basketball team victory the night before, Frankfort standout freshman Katie Jan donned a typical warm-up suit - with hat and gloves - to run away with the fifth annual Jingle Run 5K race on Saturday.

The event benefits the Falcons cross country team - so there's little surprise that harriers with sky-blue origins dotted the field of 70 runners. Jan led all females to the finish line of the 3.1-mile run with a time of 22 minutes and 44 seconds. Megan Hamilton, 33, of Cumberland, was second in 23:32.

The win served as the anticlimax to a highly successful freshman high school cross country campaign. Jan failed to finish her regional championship meet in October despite running inside the top five throughout. A medical condition, along with a possible allergic reaction to something along the course in Berkeley Springs, combined to cause her to pass out.

After having not qualified for the state championship, Jan said she chose not to compete in any postseason meets, such as the Footlocker Southeast Regionals, because "I wanted to be either at the top of my game or not do it."

"That was it for me," Jan said, closing the lid on her first year of high school cross country. "I just like to run as much as I can in races like this (in the offseason). I'm not in running shape right now, but it's good to get out and run."

Veteran Dennis Mickey outlasted Frankfort runner Darian Martz and beat him to the finish line by seven seconds. Mickey stopped the clock in 16:48 to Martz's 16:55. Woody Snowberger, of Ridgeley, was third in 17:10. Falcons standouts Brad Miller (fourth, 17:59) and Trae Miller (fifth, 18:53) rounded out the top five.

Jan now is concentrating on her first love of basketball. She's the point guard for Frankfort's freshman hoops team and on Saturday morning was still relishing a victory over Bishop Walsh. Her team's next game is Tuesday at Keyser. Gametime is 6 p.m.

While her thoughts are on rebounds and jumpshots, don't think for a moment the redhead is going to hang up her cross country spikes, though. While relatively new to the sport of competitive running, "I'm liking cross country almost as much as basketball."

"I'm happy with my year," she said, which had a "really sad ending. But things happen."

Contact Kevin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.