Reigning Michigan Division 3 state champ and All-American cultivated her love for cross country and blueberries by running on farmland and establishing an early connection to the sport through her parents’ coaching, continuing to benefit from the guidance of veteran Hart mentor Tatro

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

Jessica Jazwinski lives on a blueberry farm.

In the small town of Shelby, Mich., located in the Western Central part of the state, the Hart High junior distance runner has the access to run on endless amounts of farmland.

The perimeter around the Jazwinski’s blueberry patch is exactly 400 meters. In the running world, that’s a quarter of a mile or one lap around a track.

“(My siblings and I) do repeats around that all summer and winter through the snow and heat,” Jazwinski said. “It’s so amazing to run in these beautiful places; all of our neighbors, they let us run around their orchards and on the dirt roads and trails.”

From blueberry runs, to pursuing state championships and potentially national titles, from an early age to now a high school junior, Jazwinski has developed into one of the best distance runners in the Midwest and across the country.

“I kind of just grew up with running and was around it from a very young age,” Jazwinski said. “And then I learned to love it on my own.”

Jazwinski was born into running.

Her mom, Katie, was an All-America runner at the University of Michigan and later qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Her dad, Bob, ran at Western Michigan. The two are both teachers, and coaches in the sport, with stops at Dexter and Mona Shores High. Jazwinski’s early memories include when she was just 2 attending cross country camps in the summer.

“I just remember all the different team bondings and different things my parents would do to keep the teams loving running,” she said. “All the little things – pasta parties, the silly things cross country runners do, that’s what I grew up with and why I love the sport so much.”

Jazwinski played basketball and soccer, but gave up those activities to focus on running heading into high school.

In her first season, she emerged as Hart’s top runner, placing third overall in 18:00.59 at the MHSAA Division 3 State Championships and guiding the Pirates to a state title.

In the spring, she ran everything from the 100-meter dash to the 3,200 on the track, leading Hart to a state team title, and placing second in the 3,200 (10:48.07).

“We knew right off the bat as a freshman she was an exceptional runner, she was a special one,” said veteran Hart cross country coach Terry Tatro, who announced earlier this year that he and his wife and fellow coach Linda would be retiring following the conclusion of the season.

“You wouldn’t find anyone who works harder than her. All my kids work hard, but she just works harder. She’s just driven, tenacious, dedicated, and willing and wanting to do more.”

That attitude comes from her roots. Tatro, a 25-year coaching veteran, said the entire Jazwinski family lives and breathes running; they don’t miss a beat.

The oldest of four siblings, Jessica trains with her brother Bobby Jr., who is a freshman at Hart, and already one of the top Division 3 runners in Michigan.

“We’re always making each other better, on regular long runs or workouts, we are pushing each other,” Jazwinski said of her relationship with Bobby. “He’s faster than me, so I’m always chasing him down and he doesn’t want me to catch him, so I’m always trying to get him.”

Last fall, Jazwinski took her training to a new level, getting faster and more knowledgeable in the sport. She dominated in-state competition, claiming the regional, state and Meet of Champions crowns. Her winning 17:36.7 state performance was the fifth-fastest Division 3 all-time effort.

“I definitely think one of the main things was I started to focus on the little things including sleep, and really more the mental side of running,” Jazwinski said.

In November, Jazwinski competed in the CHAMPS Sports Midwest Regional meet in Wisconsin, where she placed fourth (17:37.7) on the 5-kilometer layout to earn the opportunity to compete in San Diego for the CHAMPS Sports National Championships.

Despite being unfamiliar with competing in California and racing in her first national cross country final, Jazwinski placed 11th overall (17:43.4) to earn All-America honors on the 5-kilometer course at Balboa Park’s Morley Field.

“Last year, during cross country at the end of the season, I started to race more of the bigger races and I was running with all of the girls, the names I see so much and are so amazing, and I’m running with these girls and I know I can stay up there with them and I’m in contention to try and beat them,” Jazwinski said. “I definitely think the mental side, building my confidence, was one of the bigger things for last year’s success.”

Jazwinski carried that momentum into the spring, when she ran a personal-best 3,200 of 10:24.61 and led Hart to another state title, running four events.

Jazwinski said she wanted to run faster in the spring, but it’s been motivation during the summer to keep getting better and chasing her goals of becoming one of the elite female distance runners in Michigan prep history.

“It’s really no surprise she’s progressed so well, she just wants to take it to the next level,” Tatro said. “She’s got the perfect mental attitude for it. She’s very bright.”

In her first competition this season, Jazwinski finished second in the Benzie Pete Moss Invitational (17:35.1), runner-up to Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Rachel Forsyth (17:09.24). Despite running nearly 10 seconds faster than a year ago, Jazwinski wasn’t happy with the result.

“She doesn’t accept failure very well,” Tatro said. “She got beat by Rachel Forsyth and she was not a happy camper. She ran a great race, but the fact she was second didn't sit well with her; that's the type of personality she has.”

Although Jazwinski continues to set high expectations for herself when it comes to running, she also has a lust for life, enjoying the simpler things, embracing nature, dabbling in flowers, and the blueberry farm, where she works the U-Pick Booth with her siblings in the summer.

For Jazwinski, finding the ideal balance between her competitive spirit and love of the outdoor elements is what her journey during the cross country season is all about, as she prepares for exciting opportunities in the month ahead, including Sept. 30 at the Shepherd Blue Jay Invitational and Oct. 7 at the Portage Invitational.

“Cross country is just my favorite and I love it for the freeness of the long distance, and I get to run in these beautiful different surroundings and areas,” Jazwinski said. “I love running and it makes me so happy to just experience these different courses and surroundings.”