Joe Waskom’s mom, Jill, reinforces the importance of being humble with her children. So in keeping with the spirit of following mom’s rules, we’ll do the bragging for Joe when it comes to his latest running accomplishment.
This past weekend in San Antonio, Texas, the 12-year old Snoqualmie resident won the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship. Waskom finished the 3K race with a time of 9:41.49 in the 11/12-year-old boys division.
According to Mount Si High School Cross Country coach, Sean Sundwall, Joe’s winning 5:11 mile pace is “ridiculous” for someone his age.
Joe finished 11 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor and about 40 seconds faster than the 3rd place finisher. Sundwall commented, “This is equivalent of a blowout in distance running.”
Joe trains in Bellevue with Youth Track & Field and Cross Country team, Speed Unlimited. Mom Jill says Sundwall (himself a champion distance runner) played a big role in developing her children’s interest in running with his local Run Snoqualmie events. Joe and sister Hannah (who advanced to the 2013 State Cross County Champions as a freshman) began their running “careers” participating in Sundwall’s annual Turkey Trot, Railroad Days and St. Patty’s Day 5k races.
Congratulations, Joe!
As for Coach Sundwall? He says he can’t wait for Joe to join sister Hannah on the Mount Si Cross Country team in two years.
