VISTA – To those who have seen Jesus Romo compete in cross country, it should come as no surprise that his favorite subject at Guajome Park Academy is an honors course called Theory of Knowledge.
Romo has been known to use his mind as much as his feet when running. It's an approach that enabled him to win San Diego Section Division IV cross country championship a year ago.
“He's an amazing young man,” said Pat Duffy, who coaches Romo in cross country and track at Guajome Park. “He strategizes so much with the other runners on the course. When he gets into it, he's so focused that he knows what he wants and goes after it.”
Romo returns as a senior this year with the distinction of being the only one of five section division champs back from last season. The others all have graduated. He's also looking to compete in the state meet for the third straight year.
“I've been training and developing physically, and over this past summer, I've developed even more mentally,” Romo said. “I look forward to putting my mind to the test and more so strategizing, not going all out (at all times), but knowing when and where I need to go full speed.”
Romo traces his cerebral approach to how he had to think about the running process when he had childhood asthma. He said he has outgrown the condition for the most part through restricting refined sugars from his diet, although he still brings an inhaler to school.
“It's a mental challenge to run with asthma,” Romo said. “They say running's 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. Back then I was developing a big chunk of that percentage (on the mental side).”
Romo took up competitive running in the sixth grade, when he came to Guajome Park, which has a middle school on campus as well. His coach then was Duffy's wife, Deborah.
In middle school, Romo typically ran in the middle of the pack, but after entering high school, he began to move to the front. As a freshman, he finished 32nd in his division of the section meet.
Then came a second-place showing as a sophomore, followed by the title last year, when he had a time of 17:12 over a 3.1-mile course at Morley Field.
Duffy started the Guajome Park program eight years ago with four boys and girls up from the middle school team that he previously helped coach. These days, the Frogs have close to 40 runners in high school competition (from an enrollment of about 750) and some 60 on the middle school team.
Sophomores Ismael Armenta and Marco Ramirez are among the other top runners back from last year's boys team that placed second in the Citrus League. Returning all-league pick Taylor Camilo helps lead the girls team, which finished fourth last season.
“I try to set the best example that I can (for other runners),” Romo said. “Everyone has their own nooks and crannies that can be better. So I try to be the best that I can. I'm always growing and learning.”
Romo noted that he had an enriching time this summer when he visited Germany for three weeks via the German American Partnership offered through his school. Students lived with host families, attended classes and even got in some running, all while the World Cup was in progress.
Ever since the sixth grade, Romo has been taking German classes. Over the last two years, he has been fully enrolled in his school's International Baccalaureate program.
Later in the fall, the 5-foot-6 Romo hopes to surpass his showing at last year's state meet, in which he placed 23rd in 16:41 at Fresno's Woodward Park.
“My goal is the state meet and beyond,” Romo said, “to get where I haven't been yet.”
It's definitely something for Jesus Romo to think about.
