Janelle Duncan honored with Wynn Award
Photo submitted
Janelle Hackman Duncan is shown with her high school coaches, Gary Gorman, left, and Bill Rogers, right.
Mrs. Janelle (Hackman) Duncan, of Licking, was honored with a prestigious Wynn Award by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 16. Duncan received the award at the Hall of Fame’s Women’s Sports Luncheon presented by Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation, at the Wilson Logistics Arena at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Mo.
Wynn Awards are presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women’s sports. The award is named in honor of the late Dr. Mary Jo Wynn. Wynn was a pioneer of women’s athletics at Missouri State University; she was named a Missouri Sports Legend in 2014. Duncan received recognition for her outstanding accomplishments in Cross Country and Track and Field.
Janelle Hackman Duncan was the Missouri Class 1-3 cross country champion in 1984, her sophomore season, finishing with a time of 20 minutes, 5 seconds. She earned another state championship in the same school year, bringing home the gold in the Class 3 Track championships in the 3200 meters. Her time of 11 minutes, 30 seconds not only won her the championship, it has been better than 71 other state champions in the 3200 meters, regardless of class.
Bill Rogers, her cross country coach that year, and Gary Gorman, her track coach, were able to attend the award ceremony. They agreed that Duncan “is a remarkable person worthy of the award.”
Gorman shared that her enthusiasm for running was contagious, and she helped recruit other girls for both the cross country and track programs. Her competitive spirit, disciplined work ethic, drive, and ability to work with and inspire others carried forward to help her in her career as a teacher and counselor.
Duncan’s running began when she accompanied her dad, Wayne Hackman, on his weekend runs. Her first experience on a cross country team was when she was in the fourth grade and joined the high school cross country team as an exhibition runner, on a U.S. military base in Vicenza, Italy.
The Hackman family moved to Licking in the mid-1980s, when her dad was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. Janelle joined the high school boys cross country team because there was no girls team at that time. As a freshman, she placed fifth at the Class 1-3 state cross country meet.
The Hackmans returned to Germany after her sophomore year. Janelle later returned to Missouri as a high school business teacher, in the Plato, Salem, Rolla and Licking school districts. She then became a high school guidance counselor at Licking High School and Rolla Technical Institute/Center.
Duncan and her husband, Matt, are the parents of Brandi (James) Huff, Sidney Duncan, and Lane (Hannah) Duncan; and the grandparents of Axel and Sloan Huff.
