Justin Romaniuk - Suffern 2001
Not untypical of a normal red-blooded American boy, young Justin Romaniuk had dreams of what it would be like being a star basketball player. A brisk run down the court, catching a key pass, and launching his body upright into the air to swish a key three-pointer for his
team – all followed by the cheering adulation of the fans.
That dream was not to be. That brisk run down the court became extended to fast runs around the park trails and tracks of the Eastern U.S. and later the Pacific West. The success of his many venturous runs brought him much greater recognition and adulation than had he stayed cooped up in the gym. His vast accomplishments as a competitive runner made him gain a rapid and enthusiastic membership into the Rockland County Track and Field Hall of Fame.
His satisfaction with his early experience with competitive footraces was tentative. He knew he was faster than most in the schoolyard and would win many “Olympic Day” races. But he dreaded being in the Elementary School Cross Country Race every fall because of the long distance of it (three-quarter mile and later a full mile run), and because this other kid from another school named Chris Lolagne always managed to run by him so easily at the end to win the gold medal. The basketball dream got more vivid on the nights those races happened. Nonetheless, cross country running managed to get into his blood very quickly.
Justin’s older sister Jessica became a successful runner on the Suffern High varsity cross country team as a freshman. Her early success motivated him to join the cross country team at Suffern Middle School. Under the guidance of Coach Mike Waples he learned about the three most necessary skills of the distance runner – patience, pacing, and hard work. In a recent interview Romaniuk shared, “I knew by October of seventh grade that I was absolutely hooked on cross country.”
When asked about what influenced and further motivated his success he was effusive about several things. He had the opportunity to participate in winter track at the high school while still a middle school student. This introduced him to Coach Joe Biddy. In engaging Biddy in conversations, Romaniuk quickly became very aware of the deep tradition in Suffern’s cross country and track programs. “You always wanted to impress Mr. Biddy positively,” he said. “You wanted to make your own positive mark on that deep tradition.” When he and his cross country classmates saw the makings of a great team in their future, they committed themselves to building their own greatness.
“Hearing about and meeting all the guys from the 1993 State championship team just inspired all of us even more,” he said. “My teammates became my biggest motivation. I wanted to win for myself, but I wanted to win for the team just as much or more. My team winning the State championship in cross country at Westchester Community, along with winning the race [individually] was one of my greatest thrills. It was fun.”
Romaniuk’s fun and successes were by no means limited to the hills, dales, and hairpin turns of cross country. His success became increasingly common when simply negotiating the repetitive left turns of both indoor and outdoor track. In fact, while he may have always
thought of himself as a cross country runner, many track statisticians would argue that as a schoolboy he was even better on the track than he was on the trails.
Success started early and came often. While in middle school struggling to achieve his goal of breaking a minute in the 400 meters was a bit frustrating, by his freshman year of high school he went way past that and began to set Rockland and New York State class records at longer distances. Each successive year of school brought even greater achievements.
Here is a listed summary of those achievements:
Rockland County freshman indoor 3,200-meter record
Rockland County freshman record for both 2,000- and 3,000-meter steeplechase
Held New York State sophomore class record for 2,000 meters (since broken)
New York State junior class record, 600-yard run indoors
Held New York State junior class record, 800-meter run indoors (since broken)
Suffern High and Rockland County record in the indoor mile, breaking a 26-year-old record that had been previously held by fellow Hall of Famer Mike Hagon
New York State Class A cross country champion
Foot Locker cross country national finalist
New York State runner-up, 3,200 meters indoors
New York State Class A champion, 1,600 meters outdoors
2000 & 2001 National Scholastic Indoor champion, mile
2000 National Scholastic Outdoor champion, 2,000-meter steeplechase
Most sub-4:20 miles/1,600 meters in Rockland history – 9
14 cross country championship titles
40 track championship titles
3-time High School All-America
His personal best outdoor performances as a high school athlete on the track were:
1:52.9 for 800 meters
3:05.1 for 1,200 meters
3:57.1 for 1,500 meters
4:12.99 for 1,600 meters
5:58.13 for 2,000-meter steeplechase
In addition, he holds or shares the following Rockland County records in indoor track:
3:55.89 for 1,500 meters (en route to mile)
4:14.09 for the mile
3:32.14 for the sprint medley relay
Another great thrill Romaniuk reflected upon was when he and his Suffern teammates (Kris DeFilippis, 22.7; Pasquale Napoli, 22.9; Chris Lolagne, 47.4, Justin Romaniuk, 1:50.9) set an outstanding Rockland County record of 3:24.09 in the sprint medley relay at the 2001 National Scholastic Outdoor Championships.
Justin’s achievements outside the realm of athletics at Suffern High were numerous as well. He was a member of the National Honor Society and was elected president of the student government.
Upon graduating he took his diploma and his track spikes out West to Palo Alto to enroll at Stanford University. While there, he had the great accomplishment of becoming the Pac-10 Conference champion at 800 meters. The Pac-10 is reputed to be the most competitive track and field conference in the NCAA. He also was a three-time (2002, 2003, 2004) All Pac-10 Conference Academic selection in track and field.
Reflecting upon his pending induction, Justin Romaniuk echoed a local pride that sounds very reminiscent of previous Hall of Fame honorees. “I am really honored by my selection to the Hall of Fame. Competing in Rockland County was great fun and it provided me a very good environment to thrive in. Your ‘rivals’ were your friends. I got to compete against some great and talented guys like Paul Joyce who just brought out the best in me.”
team – all followed by the cheering adulation of the fans.
That dream was not to be. That brisk run down the court became extended to fast runs around the park trails and tracks of the Eastern U.S. and later the Pacific West. The success of his many venturous runs brought him much greater recognition and adulation than had he stayed cooped up in the gym. His vast accomplishments as a competitive runner made him gain a rapid and enthusiastic membership into the Rockland County Track and Field Hall of Fame.
His satisfaction with his early experience with competitive footraces was tentative. He knew he was faster than most in the schoolyard and would win many “Olympic Day” races. But he dreaded being in the Elementary School Cross Country Race every fall because of the long distance of it (three-quarter mile and later a full mile run), and because this other kid from another school named Chris Lolagne always managed to run by him so easily at the end to win the gold medal. The basketball dream got more vivid on the nights those races happened. Nonetheless, cross country running managed to get into his blood very quickly.
Justin’s older sister Jessica became a successful runner on the Suffern High varsity cross country team as a freshman. Her early success motivated him to join the cross country team at Suffern Middle School. Under the guidance of Coach Mike Waples he learned about the three most necessary skills of the distance runner – patience, pacing, and hard work. In a recent interview Romaniuk shared, “I knew by October of seventh grade that I was absolutely hooked on cross country.”
When asked about what influenced and further motivated his success he was effusive about several things. He had the opportunity to participate in winter track at the high school while still a middle school student. This introduced him to Coach Joe Biddy. In engaging Biddy in conversations, Romaniuk quickly became very aware of the deep tradition in Suffern’s cross country and track programs. “You always wanted to impress Mr. Biddy positively,” he said. “You wanted to make your own positive mark on that deep tradition.” When he and his cross country classmates saw the makings of a great team in their future, they committed themselves to building their own greatness.
“Hearing about and meeting all the guys from the 1993 State championship team just inspired all of us even more,” he said. “My teammates became my biggest motivation. I wanted to win for myself, but I wanted to win for the team just as much or more. My team winning the State championship in cross country at Westchester Community, along with winning the race [individually] was one of my greatest thrills. It was fun.”
Romaniuk’s fun and successes were by no means limited to the hills, dales, and hairpin turns of cross country. His success became increasingly common when simply negotiating the repetitive left turns of both indoor and outdoor track. In fact, while he may have always
thought of himself as a cross country runner, many track statisticians would argue that as a schoolboy he was even better on the track than he was on the trails.
Success started early and came often. While in middle school struggling to achieve his goal of breaking a minute in the 400 meters was a bit frustrating, by his freshman year of high school he went way past that and began to set Rockland and New York State class records at longer distances. Each successive year of school brought even greater achievements.
Here is a listed summary of those achievements:
Rockland County freshman indoor 3,200-meter record
Rockland County freshman record for both 2,000- and 3,000-meter steeplechase
Held New York State sophomore class record for 2,000 meters (since broken)
New York State junior class record, 600-yard run indoors
Held New York State junior class record, 800-meter run indoors (since broken)
Suffern High and Rockland County record in the indoor mile, breaking a 26-year-old record that had been previously held by fellow Hall of Famer Mike Hagon
New York State Class A cross country champion
Foot Locker cross country national finalist
New York State runner-up, 3,200 meters indoors
New York State Class A champion, 1,600 meters outdoors
2000 & 2001 National Scholastic Indoor champion, mile
2000 National Scholastic Outdoor champion, 2,000-meter steeplechase
Most sub-4:20 miles/1,600 meters in Rockland history – 9
14 cross country championship titles
40 track championship titles
3-time High School All-America
His personal best outdoor performances as a high school athlete on the track were:
1:52.9 for 800 meters
3:05.1 for 1,200 meters
3:57.1 for 1,500 meters
4:12.99 for 1,600 meters
5:58.13 for 2,000-meter steeplechase
In addition, he holds or shares the following Rockland County records in indoor track:
3:55.89 for 1,500 meters (en route to mile)
4:14.09 for the mile
3:32.14 for the sprint medley relay
Another great thrill Romaniuk reflected upon was when he and his Suffern teammates (Kris DeFilippis, 22.7; Pasquale Napoli, 22.9; Chris Lolagne, 47.4, Justin Romaniuk, 1:50.9) set an outstanding Rockland County record of 3:24.09 in the sprint medley relay at the 2001 National Scholastic Outdoor Championships.
Justin’s achievements outside the realm of athletics at Suffern High were numerous as well. He was a member of the National Honor Society and was elected president of the student government.
Upon graduating he took his diploma and his track spikes out West to Palo Alto to enroll at Stanford University. While there, he had the great accomplishment of becoming the Pac-10 Conference champion at 800 meters. The Pac-10 is reputed to be the most competitive track and field conference in the NCAA. He also was a three-time (2002, 2003, 2004) All Pac-10 Conference Academic selection in track and field.
Reflecting upon his pending induction, Justin Romaniuk echoed a local pride that sounds very reminiscent of previous Hall of Fame honorees. “I am really honored by my selection to the Hall of Fame. Competing in Rockland County was great fun and it provided me a very good environment to thrive in. Your ‘rivals’ were your friends. I got to compete against some great and talented guys like Paul Joyce who just brought out the best in me.”