North Central’s Justin Janke places 25th at Foot Locker cross country nationals

SAN DIEGO – For 1 mile Saturday, Justin Janke ran with the lead pack at the 37th annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

The rest of the race proved a challenge to the North Central senior, who last month won the State 3A title in Pasco.

“It’s just been a long season for me,” Janke said after placing 25th among the boys field of 40. … “I’ve been racing so often and had such a long season that I wasn’t able to perform at my level.”

Janke completed the 5,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 45.2 seconds. Winner Drew Hunter, a senior from Purcellville, Virginia, crossed in 14:55.7.

Janke said he was running in seventh place at the 1-mile mark before finding the pace too quick.

“It was extremely hilly,” Janke said. “Lots of really sharp turns … and one quite massive hill.”

Four runners competed from Washington state, but Janke was the lone participant from east of the Cascades.

Janke said he has talked to a couple of college about running beyond high school. For now, he’ll ease back before track and field season.

“I need a break,” Janke said.