SOMERS, N.Y. - After qualifying for the state meet, Julia Duzynski set her sights on earning an All-State ranking. The Somers senior knew she needed to stay with the pack of top-30 runners — and she did. When the race tightened, it came down to pure resolve.
“I was on the cusp between 20 and 22,” said the 16th-place All-State finisher. “I knew it was important that I push when I did or I wouldn’t have hit my spot.”
Before she could make her move, she had to keep pace. Hills have always been in her favor, and, as she put it, “I pushed as hard as I could.”
Duzynski’s arrival in the sport wasn’t a straight line. She spent most of her childhood playing soccer until high school made reality clear. “Not tall," said Duzynski, “I wasn’t built for soccer.”
Encouraged by her modified coach and her parents, she found running appealing because it allowed her to step outside the moment. “I like how I can zone out,” she revealed.
Still, her team always mattered — and she mattered to them. “When we qualified for the states as a team, I couldn’t have done it without them, and they couldn’t have done it without me,” she reflected on her freshman year.
Success erased any doubts about the sport. “That convinced me to keep going for it,” said Duzynski.
Her sophomore year didn’t bring a return to states, but her junior season marked a breakout: she jumped from 40th place to 15th. Becoming a two-time All-Stater strengthened her commitment to the culture at Somers. “It’s so good running with such a supportive team and knowing especially in cross country that I’m not running for myself, I’m running for the whole team,” she assured.
That support system starts at the top with Coach Vegliante. “He’s really supportive the way he helps all the athletes push to be better,” she said.
Even so, Duzynski doesn’t lack internal drive. “If I run slow, I’m upset,” she said. “So it’s worth it to always push yourself.”
Running in Section One helped sharpen that competitive edge at the state level. “John Jay girls, Tappan Zee and Nyack, it’s good to have such a competitive section. because I know people I can stick with and race with,” said Duzynski.
Her sister was among those competitors, adding to her pride. “She ran a good race in the top 30 - especially as a sophomore,” she said of her younger sibling. “I’m happy that she has two more years, and the whole outdoor track season to get better.”
Now approaching her final high school season, Duzynski is preparing for the next chapter. She has committed to SUNY Binghamton, where she plans to major in biology. “I really love running,” said the senior, who finished 32nd at Federations.
And beyond college?
“We’ll see,” she concluded. “I definitely want to start running some longer distances.”
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