Hall of Fame

Jayne Dusich

  • Class
    1991
  • Induction
    2016
  • Sport(s)


Jayne Dusich was a standout on the cross country and track and field teams at Bemidji State University. After transferring to BSU from Vermilion Community College, Dusich became a six-time letter winner. She had an instant impact at BSU earning an individual Northern Sun Conference championship and first place finish at the District 13 cross country meet, while leading the Beavers to the NSC Championship and a District 13 title in 1989. She went on to place 30th at the NAIA national championships. That same year she was selected as the District 13 Most Valuable Athlete and earned BSU’s Most Valuable Female Athlete award. She became the first female to win back-to-back NSC cross country championships in 1990 before again being named NSC Most Valuable Athlete, earning all-district laurels by placing first at the District 13 meet and becoming the first BSU runner to be selected NAIA All-American, placing 18th.

While at BSU she also set school track and field records in eight events. She established indoor marks at the 1,000-meter (3:04.24), 1,500-meter (4:42.09) and 3,000-meter (10:27.85) distances, while posting records at 1,500-meters (4:46.80), 3,000-meters (10:31.90) and 5,000-meters (18:19.44) distances outdoors, five of which still stand today. In addition, Dusich competed in NAIA Nationals both years for indoor and outdoor track, was named NAIA All-American, garnered an NAIA Track and Field Scholar Athlete Award and was a two-time Academic All-American (1989 and 1990).

Dusich was the recipient of the NSC’s prestigious Willis R. Kelly Scholar Athlete Award in 1991, was named one of BSU’s 60 Outstanding Women Athletes and was a member of the BSU 30th Anniversary team.

Post BSU, Dusich returned to Ely, Minnesota where she started the girls cross country running team in 1995 and the boy’s in team in 2010. She has served as head girl’s track and cross country coach at Ely High School and earned Section 7A Coach of the Year honors for cross country in 2004 and 2006 and track and field in 1997 and 1999. In 2015, both the girls and boys cross country teams earned a trip to the state meet where the girls placed 12th and the boys 14th.

Jayne and her husband  Dan retired a year ago after they sold their family business, which they had run for the past 38 years in Ely, however, Dusich still coaches cross country and track at Ely High School. Jayne and Dan have three daughters; Crystal and her husband Jeff live in San Diego; Letitia and her husband Dominic live in Colorado Springs; and Brittany and her husband Steve live in Plymouth, Minnesota with their daughter, Violet.