Oklahoma State University Athletics
Miles and Milestones with Monika Juodeskaite
October 04, 2012 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Oct. 4, 2012
Blake Zimmerman - Although Monika Juodeskaite is thousands of miles from where she grew up, she is right at home on the course.
Juodeskaite is the reigning cross country Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 distance runner at Oklahoma State, hailing from across the Atlantic Ocean in Lithuania.
Although Juodeskaite was a decorated runner in high school, earning the title of Lithuanian Champion twice, she decided America was the place where she could further her career.
"They (OSU) asked me to be a part of this team and I was very excited about it," Juodeskaite said. "At home, there aren't good conditions to make sport. You can be in sports, but you also need to work to make a living. I came here to finish my studies, improve and be a good athlete."
When a Lithuanian thinks about the U.S., chances are Stillwater, Okla., isn't the first place he or she thinks about. However, for a runner with a mother who was an Olympian looking for a cross country program, Stillwater was near the top of the list.
"I like it here," Juodeskaite said. "Also, there are Lithuanians here, so I have people who speak my language and understand me. That was part of it. The team is so nice. Everyone is friendly, and the conditions are perfect to run."
Part of the reason Juodeskaite came to Stillwater was her mother, Inga, encouraging her to come to America. Inga was quite the runner herself. She competed in two Olympics, running the 5,000-meter in 2000 and the marathon in 2004. OSU Track and Field Coach Dave Smith said Monika shares the work ethic that helped her mother get to multiple Olympics.
"On the track, she's very tough mentally," Smith said. "She has a certain maturity and self-reliance that I think comes with kids that come from far away, leaving the comforts of home. Also, she has an incredible work ethic. However, it can be a weakness. Sometimes she's willing to do too much. But she wants to do everything she can to be the best she can be."
Monika has used that work ethic and toughness to make some of her favorite memories at OSU. She described last year's cross country nationals in particular.
"The announcer said that we made it and it was amazing," Monika said. "I started crying. Not of sadness, though. Everyone was so happy. I can't even describe the feeling. We made it as a team, and that is my nicest memory. I hope we can make many more like it."
Monika said the fact that her loved ones can't see her races makes it hard to describe what went right or wrong when she talks to them. But, that is just one of the added difficulties of being more than an ocean away from home.
"I always miss my family. I have a boyfriend back at home, too," Monika said. "I always go home for summer and Christmas, so I guess two times a year isn't bad. I'm glad we have communication like Skype so I can talk to them every day."
Monika said her family is usually working when she is running, and coming to America is expensive, usually averaging about $1,000 for the flight alone. Her boyfriend was able to visit for spring break, so that made it three times she was able to see him over the course of a year.
After her third-place finish at this year's Cowboy Jamboree, Monika is in high spirits and has plenty of optimism despite the distance, but miles shouldn't be a problem for someone who runs a few of them every day.
