SJ-O family atmosphere helped propel Hannah Rajlich in running career

Sometimes a brother’s influence can be a good thing.

St. Joseph-Ogden’s Hannah Rajlich wouldn’t have found her passion for running had her brother not nudged her towards cross-country when she was in the fifth grade.

“I was never actually interested in the sport beforehand, but my brother forced me to join,” Rajlich said. “I’ve stuck with it ever since because of the competitive aspect of the sport. We all get to race our individual events, but we all come together to score as a team. It’s unlike any other sport.”

Her senior year has also been unlike any other senior year. With the March 20 stay-at-home order by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the cancellation of the remainder of the school year on April 17, Rajlich hasn’t been able to finish her running career in the way she imagined.

The things Rajlich accomplished between her freshman and junior years are notable, though.

Rajlich ran with the Spartans at the Class 1A IHSA state cross-country finals all four years: helping the team place first her freshman year, second her sophomore year, fifth her junior year and seventh her senior year. Individually, Rajlich was one of the team’s top five runners all four years at state.

As a junior, Rajlich placed 31st overall in Class 1A, crossing the finish line after 3 miles in 18:35.

The Spartans’ long-distance running program continued to find success during the spring track and field seasons.

As a sophomore Rajlich ran on the third-place Class 1A state-finishing 3,200-meter relay, which was timed in 9:51.85. The 4×800-meter relay team placed third during the state finals, and SJ-O finished as the Class 1A State Champions.

Her 2018-19 3,200-meter relay team placed seventh in Class 1A with a time of 10:12.47. The 2017 and 2019 St. Joseph-Ogden track and field teams tied for third place in Class 1A.

Rajlich has also participated in the 4×800-meter relay and the 1600-meter race, and would fill in on the 4×400-meter relay when coaches needed her to.

“Every time I step onto the track I want to bring competition and passion,” she said. “I’m always up for a good close race and I just love to run. Being able to showcase all of my hard work out on the track is the most rewarding part of this sport.”

Rajlich planned on spending her senior year building on what she’d learned over the years.

Over the last month, she had continued training to reach her goals of the 4×800-meter relay team winning state and placing in the 1600-meter race.

The team had kept its distance, working on their goals alone, but Rajlich said that the team stuck together.

“We still stay in contact everyday through our group messages, snapchat, and video chats,” she said. “Training on your own is tough, but still communicating with your teammates everyday makes it a little easier!”

Rajlich was working towards being a leader that underclassmen could look up to.

“Training at home is hard, so I want my teammates to realize that I am here for them no matter what,” she said. “Additionally, I want my teammates to see all of the work I have been putting in, hopefully motivating them to do the same.

“Being an athlete has taught me to work hard for the things I want to accomplish. I’ve learned how to never give up and how to keep pushing forward, all of which will help me in my future beyond running.”

Over the years, the St. Joseph-Ogden coaching staff has also encouraged Rajlich to push herself.

“All of my coaches have helped shape me into a better athlete and person,” she said. “The daily relationship we have been able to build along with trust have helped me become successful. Specifically though, Coach McD and Coach Retz have influenced me the most throughout my years. They are both very knowledgeable on the topic of distance running and they have always been there for me.”

From teammates to coaches to fans, being part of the Spartan program is about being part of a family.

“Past teammates and community members are always cheering us on, and our team has a special bond,” she said. “This program has helped me grow into the person I am today through the leadership roles I have taken, along with the mentality that I have gained. This program means a lot to me, and it is something I will never forget.

“I will miss everything about this program next year, but I am so excited to see what the future of this program accomplishes.”