For a list of the other Gatorade State Cross Country Runner of the Year winners, click here.

THE WINNER: Jordan Cardenas

THE BASICS

School: Reno (Nev.)
Grade: Senior
Height: 5-foot-10

Athletic achievement: He raced to the Division 1 individual state championship this past season with a time of 16:15.9. Cardenas also captured victories at the North Region Championships, the Nevada Twilight Classic and the Division 2 race at the Stanford Invitational.

Academic excellence: Cardenas has maintained a 3.81 GPA in the classroom.

Exemplary character: A group leader in his church community, he has volunteered as a Spanish tutor in his school.

THE PRAISE

“Jordan always sets his goals very high,” said Reno coach Jim Parker. “He’s a real student of the sport, he prepares himself well and he takes responsibility for his running.”

THE FUTURE: Cardenas has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at the University of Portland beginning this fall.