Eagle Extra: Jecenia Duran, Women's Cross Country

By: Rose Lucidi
Sports Information Intern
lucidrx10@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Originally a soccer player who participated at the highly competitive premier level for eight years, Jecenia Duran (Temple,Pa./Oley Valley) started running cross country to keep in shape for the soccer season. She never thought of leaving soccer behind and perusing solely cross county, let alone becoming a successful collegiate runner. Duran finished her sophomore year with the Juniata College women's cross country team ranked third in the Landmark Conference for the 3K run.

For Duran, her fascination with Juniata was love at first sight. All she had to do was lay eyes on a campus map at a local college fair and she knew she had found her future. Duran was always in search of a small campus with a tightknit community and Juniata was just the place for her.

"Before my visit to Juniata, one of my best friend's mom's told me that you will get this feeling of 'you just know,'" said Duran. "I never believed it and then the second I drove onto the campus I had that exact feeling."

Her love for Juniata only increased after talking to head coach John Cutright. Following their conversation, her mind was set on becoming an Eagle and running cross country.

"I applied to a couple other schools, but they did not rank anywhere close to Juniata," said Duran.  "I had my heart set on going here."

While a full course load and a demanding running schedule keeps her plenty busy, Duran makes sure to set aside time to "bum around" with her friends and watch TV. On top of everything else, she also serves as the sophomore class president and helps set their agenda.

"We are slowly but surely raising money for the sophomore class," said Duran.  "We also approved so many new clubs on campus, such as disc golf and the rowing club. We also planned the Alex's Lemonade Stand inaugural concert."

The concert was an event that ran through the sophomore class student government to raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand, an organization started in the front yard of childhood cancer patient Alex Scott. At the concert, students performed a variety of different acts, from lyrical dances to sign-language interpretation of songs to instrumental compositions.  Alex Scott held her first lemonade fundraiser in 2000 at the age of four to help raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer. Since then, the foundation that is named after her has begun a national movement to keep Alex's idea alive.

Being able to balance academics, student government and a social life is what makes Duran a good example of a student-athlete. She is currently studying biological-psychology and considering medical school after graduation. 

Rapid Fire:

Favorite band/artist?
Zed

Favorite shoes?
Ugg Moccasins

Favorite item in your dorm room?
Keurig

One thing you couldn't go a day without?
iPhone

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I am the biggest advocate for Alex's Lemonade Stand, so I would have to say Alex. I find her so inspirational and adorable.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Ireland

If you could be any animal (car, vegetable, etc.), what would you be and why?
Some sort of cat, because I love cats. So maybe I would be a Cheetah because they run.

If you could be an Olympic athlete (in anything other than your sport) what would it be?
Gymnastics.

Favorite class at JC?
Abnormal psychology

Favorite place in Huntingdon?
Standing Stone because I love coffee

Favorite Juniata Tradition?
Madrigal because I love singing, tenting, and food.

Favorite athletic experience at JC?
The cross country season opener this year at Bucknell, I killed it.

If you could trade places with one JC athlete, who would it be and why?
Kevin Gorman or Chris Beall. I think it would be really fun to play football, and hit someone. Because running track and cross-country I really don't get a chance to do that.

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