Maybe Too Humble : UCLA’s Mark Junkermann Downplays His Success in Track

From the time he won a two-mile time trial as a freshman at Los Alamitos High School, Mark Junkermann has surprised his coaches, his teammates . . . even himself with his continual success.

“He’s surpassed our expectations,” said Bob Larsen, UCLA coach. “He’s developed and matured and proven his versatility. And now he’s running at the national level.”

All this from a guy who, upon initial introduction, appears to have all the killer instinct of John-Boy Walton.

A swimmer since the age of 6, Junkermann traded his Speedos for spikes when he realized his running ability might clothe him in a lettermen’s jacket quicker than swimming would.

Though he claims his first year wasn’t exactly woven with blue ribbons (“I was pretty average,” he said), Junkermann set a freshman record with a 10:01 two-mile.

Throughout high school, he ran an average of 60 miles a week and soon developed into one of Orange County’s best milers and two-milers.

A fact, it seems, Junkermann chose to ignore.

“I didn’t pay much attention,” he said of the rankings that placed him in the top five of the Southern Section his senior year. “There were so many other people better than me. I didn’t want to get overconfident about it.”

Though a series of illnesses plagued his final high school season, Junkermann finished fourth in the Southern Section cross-country finals and 10th in the Kinney Junior National Championships. That spring, he placed sixth in the Southern Section two-mile.

Then it was June. Time for considering scholarship offers and signing letters of intent. Practically the only thing Junkermann was given to sign was his friends’ high school yearbooks.

“I had hoped for more (interest from recruiters), but only UC Riverside had offered me a scholarship, and Orange Coast had a good program, but I didn’t want to go somewhere where I’d be the number one or even number two runner.”

So, he decided to try to walk on at UCLA, where Larsen had built a solid program to challenge the Pac-10’s perennial leaders, Oregon and Washington State.

That year, the Bruin roster included All-Americans Ron Roberts, Mike Parkinson and Jon Butler, and Junkermann found himself struggling more than he had anticipated.

“Sometimes when we’d be running together, Jon or someone would throw in a surge and I’d just let them go,” Junkermann said. “I just let my mind tell me I had no business being up there with them.”

After a frustrating first year, Junkermann decided to forget who he was running with, and instead concentrate on how he could perform better.

Success soon came.

In his junior year, Junkermann led the Bruins in the mile (4:05.2), the 1,500 (3:46.49) and the steeplechase (8:44.8).

And last summer, Junkermann immersed himself in a training program some might term ultra -masochistic.

Run 10 miles every morning. Work nine-to-five. Run six miles to an evening job. Work six-to-nine. Go to the gym. Lift weights. Go to sleep. Get up and do it again.

Junkermann returned to UCLA a stronger runner last fall, and led the Bruins to a third-place finish at the Pac-10 cross-country championships. He already has qualified for the NCAA 1,500 meters with a time of 3:42.7, which is equivalent to a sub-four minute mile. The collegiate national championships will be held June 4-7.

There are a few nagging questions, however, that remain unanswered.

“I just realized that I’m halfway through my collegiate career and I haven’t done anything yet.”

Sure. Right. Having the fastest time in the Pac-10 isn’t worth mentioning . And qualifying for the NCAAs? A disgrace. Especially for a guy who wasn’t even recruited out of high school.

“Well, I’m not saying I haven’t improved,” he said. “I just want to find out if someone who was a nobody can become one of the best.”

And what does he think it will take?

“Getting into a fast-enough race,” he said. “That, and being able to convince myself I can run with the best.”

Saturday at UCLA he had his chance in the Pepsi meet, but finished ninth in the mile with a time of 4:04.9. Jim Spivey was the winner in 3:56.7.

Still, Junkermann may have a few surprises left for all of us.