JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Musick rallies to become top runner at Mount Union

ALLIANCE -- Jamie Musick has overcome some health problems to become the top runner and a record-breaking performer on the Mount Union College women's cross country team in her senior season.
Musick, a Warren JFK High graduate, has recovered from an anemic condition and now is a perfect 6-for-6 so far this year, meaning that she has run the fastest times for the Purple Raiders in their first six meets.
"We found out that after she was at Mount Union for two years that she was anemic," said coach Deana Fresenko. "She kind of struggled her first two years.
"She went to the doctor and got some iron supplements. She has trained hard for four years and it is paying off."
The highlight of Musick's recent 6-for-6 streak was her first collegiate win at the Penn State Behrend Invitational Sept. 17. She set a 5-kilometer course record in 19 minutes and won by 12 seconds, to lead Mount Union to a third-place finish out of 14 teams.
For that performance, she was named Ohio Athletic Conference runner of the week.
Set school record
Musick also set a school 6-kilometer record (22:26) at the NCAA Pre-Regional meet Sept. 23 at Wilmington to place fifth, and help Mount Union take third out of eight teams.
And she achieved her career-best 5K time of 18:34 at the Bowling Green Invitational Sept. 10 to place fifth overall.
Fresenko said she noticed a positive change in Musick's running performances last season, and that her improvement continued throughout the year and carried over to this year.
"Last year in her junior year, about midway through the season, her times started to improve, and in our conference meet she is big reason we won conference last year," said Fresenko of the team's second straight OAC crown.
"She was fourth [23:36] in the OAC meet last year and second-best in the regional. She missed going the nationals by one place.
Gained All-OAC honors
Musick gained All-OAC honors with that fourth-place finish. She also placed 12th (22:16) at the Great Lakes Regional meet last year.
"She trained very hard this summer and has done very well," added Fresenko. "There has been a big difference in her times."
Musick has placed consistently high overall in all six meets this year, her other finishes being fourth, fifth and sixth.
Her fourth came at the 5K Tidewater Classic in Salisbury, Md., Oct. 4 with 22:06 to help MUC place third of eight teams.
Her fifth was in the opening meet of the season Sept. 3 against Case Western Reserve in 19:41 (for 5k).
And her sixth came at the All-Ohio Championships on Oct. 7 at Ohio Wesleyan, with 19:23 over 5K to lead MUC to 16th place overall among NCAA Division III schools.
Takahashi, Hixon on team
Musick is joined on the Mount Union team by two other area runners -- Hiromi Takahashi, a senior from Austintown Fitch; and Rachel Hixon, a freshman from Canfield.
Takahashi, a two-year letterman, was second fastest on the team behind Musick at the NCAA Pre-Regional Meet with 23:23 for 19th place.
Takahashi also was 14th (23:18) at the Tidewater Classic behind Musick and other team members Jen Farrell (1th in 23:07) and Kelli Kranek (13th in 23:13).
Last year, Takahashi placed 14th in the OAC meet with 24:09 to help her team win the title.
"Hiromi has been second or third for us every meet," said Fresenko. "She consistently has been one of our better runners."
Fresenko, in her ninth season, was named OAC coach of the year last year for the second straight year, and her third such honor (2001, 2003, 2004). MUC was OAC runner-up in 2001.
kovach@vindy.com