HERMISTON, Ore.-Jaysen Rodriguez has rewritten the Hermiston High School distance record book over the course of his cross country and track career for the Bulldogs.
“I really enjoyed running for Hermiston,” said Rodriguez, a senior. “The past four years were definitely worth it. It makes a difference when you’re not just running for yourself, but for a team.”
Rodriguez realized he was fast for the first time in fourth or fifth grade when a P.E. teacher had the class run a mile.
“I guess I was pretty fast, I beat the other kids,” Rodriguez said. “Then I participated in some community races and my P.E. teacher introduced me to Coach Blackburn.”
Rodriguez joined the track team in sixth grade, but didn’t get into too many races, however, the summer before seventh grade he had the opportunity to work out and run with Hermiston High’s team, and the experience laid the groundwork for future triumphs on the track.
“I got really fit and it boosted my confidence,” Rodriguez says of the experience.
Putting in the work
“There’s no runner more dedicated and hardworking than Jaysen,” said Troy Blackburn, Hermiston cross country Head Coach. “He’s a student of the sport; we almost don’t have to coach him.”
During cross country season Rodriguez trains by running a heavier load of about 55 miles per week.
For the track season he scales that down to roughly 50 miles a week, in addition to recovery exercises and recovery time every day.
“We create workouts for him, or he brings ideas to us,” said Blackburn of coaching Rodriguez. “Then he goes and does it and we check in. He’s found what works, stayed healthy and had some really good years of running.”
As with most great athletes, Rodriguez embraces tradition and even a touch of superstition, wearing the same faded and worn pair of black socks on race day since sixth grade.
“If I don’t wear them on race day I get nervous on the line,” said Rodriguez.
A record-breaking Bulldog
Rodriguez has been a three-sport star for the Bulldogs, winning a State Title in wrestling at 138 pounds at the WIAA Mat Classic in February, in addition to his cross country and track exploits.
“Running all the way,” Rodriguez said, when asked which sport he prefers. “Wrestling was a struggle for me over the winter when I just wanted to run but couldn’t.”
Free to run this spring, Rodriguez has run all over the Bulldog distance record books, even breaking some of his own records along the way.
Rodriguez can recall his record times when distances are called out, including the 800 (1:54.3), 1500 (3:56.6), 1600 (4:15), 3K (8:31) and 3200 (9:03) for Hermiston.
Rodriguez was also a part of Hermiston’s four-person Distance Medley Relay team (1200, 400, 800, 1600) that broke a 20-year-old school record by four seconds this season with a time of 10:24.68.
In addition to the necessary training, recovery and coaching, Rodriguez, the middle of three children, credits his parents and siblings for the success he’s had on the track.
“My family has always been there for me,” Rodriguez said. “Their support with travel, the big races and everything else has allowed me to have the success I’ve had.”
Last fall Rodriguez finished seventh individually in cross country and Hermiston’s team also took seventh at state.
“Before Jaysen, Hermiston Cross Country was alright,” said Coach Blackburn. “With him we got better every year. What he does on the track is obvious, but what he does through leading by example, whether its training, eating or recovery-the kids coming up are starting to buy in.”
A model student-athlete
Rodriguez’s favorite class at Hermiston is Phlebotomy and he plans to take the test to become a Certified Phlebotomist soon.
A blur on the track, Rodriguez does slow down occasionally and enjoys fishing, spending time with his family, watching lacrosse and a good wood-fired New York Style pizza.
After graduation in June he plans to work with elementary aged kids over the summer in a Teacher’s Assistant type of role before attending the University of Idaho to run cross country and track.
“To compete for the United States or Mexico in the Olympics is always a dream,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve got to put in the work and take it one day at a time, though. I could be the best in high school and average in college.”
Rodriguez will probably run the 8k and 6k in cross-country, and the 5k and maybe the mile in track for the Vandals.
What’s Next
The Mid-Columbia Conference (MCC) Championships are on May 17, followed by Districts and then State from May 29-31.
According to Coach Blackburn, Rodriguez should qualify for at least two events at state. For Rodriguez nothing would be better than pulling up his lucky socks, stepping on the track one more time as a Bulldog, and going out on top.
“Going to state alone is fun, but with friends and teammates it’s better,” said Rodriguez. “It’s always fun to go out with a bang by making a statement with a record or by placing high.”
