9/6 girls cross country: Coach, teammates explain what makes Onalaska’s Jami Hill so successful

By KIRK BEY

kbey@lacrossetribune.com

ONALASKA — Jami Hill doesn’t know how she made it, but she did.

There was a day in the not-too-distant past Hill was going nonstop and for once, not liking it very much. Her schedule included a school function, immediately followed by Onalaska High School girls cross country practice. Hill is as energetic as they come, but even she admits to being exhausted by day’s end. The image of Hill sacked out is one of those “what’s wrong with this picture?” moments. You never see the senior straining as she moves to the front of the pack during Onalaska’s meets. You see the same easygoing demeanor as you watch her during her post-meet cooldown run.

Running, says Hill, is her passion. She’s pretty good at what she does, too. She finished third at last year’s Mississippi Valley Conference meet and helped Onalaska win its first conference title. She finished 28th in Division 1 at the WIAA state meet as the Hilltoppers finished sixth. She’s also a standout distance runner for the Onalaska girls track and field team who has attracted the attention of a handful of NCAA Division I programs.

Those who know Hill best — her teammates and coach, Darin Shepardson — have no doubt she has the drive to be even better this fall. Here’s why they think she’s so good:

Work ethic

Hill is devoted to running year-round regardless of the weather, but her summer training sets the tone for the year.

Shepardson said Hill ran more than 500 miles this past summer, peaking at about

60 miles a week. But Shepardson also knows Hill is smart enough to back off when necessary.

“She’s one of those kids who does anything you ask her to do,” Shepardson said. “She’s highly committed to what she wants to do. She doesn’t want to sacrifice greatness for simply being good.”

Mental toughness

Shepardson says Hill is “forward focused” and able to shake off disappoinment rather easily. Case in point: the 2008 WIAA state track and field meet. Hill finished second in three events (800- and 1,600-meter runs, 3,200 relay), but Shepardson said Hill was unfazed.

“She’s got a short memory,” Shepardson said.

And, says Hill’s twin sister, Katie, Jami has the ability to withstand the mental struggles nearly every runner faces.

“If you think you’re going to have a bad race, then you’re not going to run well. But Jami hasn’t had a bad race. She’s always been pretty consistent,” Katie Hill said. “You know she’s always going to be there, even if her body is hurting.”

Strong motivator

The Hilltoppers were doing what they were supposed to last year at the John Buchner Invitational: running as a pack. But Katie Hill remembers that the team had set a goal of running back-to-back 6-minute miles, and that Jami yelled ‘Keep going!’ to keep them on track.

“Jami helps you want to be as good as her,” Onalaska sophomore Jackie Groshek said. “When we’re all tired, she helps us by telling us, ‘good job,’ and ‘you can do it.’ ”

Humility

The list of Division I colleges pursuing Jami is impressive. At least six Big Ten Conference schools (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State) have contacted her. So has Marquette, Oregon and Mississippi State.

Not that that’s a big deal to her, says Onalaska sophomore Maddie Hibshman.

“Jami never talks about colleges,” Hibshman said. “She knows colleges are coming after her, but she’s pretty humble about it. And that’s a good thing.”