TWIN LAKE, Mich. (WOOD) — A Muskegon County middle schooler will compete in the National Junior Olympic Championship this weekend.
Jana Stiffler, 12, and her family live in Twin Lake. But this week they headed to Hoover, Alabama, where Jana will run against more than 200 girls from across the country.
24 Hour News 8 caught up with her and her family hours before they left late Wednesday night.
Jana was able to get in one last workout in West Michigan before leaving for the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships.
“The speed workouts are starting to get more treacherous,” she joked.
Jana is a 7th grader at Great Lakes Cyber Academy.
She qualified for the big race after a meet on the east side of the state that’s specifically held for students who don’t have access to a school track or cross country team.
She told 24 Hour News 8 about her weak ankles which caused injuries earlier in the season, but the help of a physical therapist allowed her to improve and compete.
“I was very happy,” Jana said as she recalled qualifying for the championship race.
It may be hard to believe, but Jana only recently took up running.
She joined the Grand Rapids Track Club last year.
Her talents didn’t take long to be recognized. Last year, she also made it to the national competition which took place in New Mexico.
“That in itself was a huge accomplishment,” her dad, Steve, said proudly. “You know? [A] first year runner making it to the junior Olympics.”
“I was really excited for her,” said her mom Hope. “I know I drive her crazy sometimes because I’ll say no remember to do this and remember to do that”
Her parents said that having fun is their top priority for their daughter.
For Jana, running is relief.
“All the bottled up feelings inside just go POOF,” she explained.
Jana runs three to seven miles, six days per week. She works out two days per week with the track club.
On top of her excitement about sightseeing, Jana wants to run a time faster than 13 minutes in the 3K race on Saturday.