Los Gatos Weekly-Times

All-American runner Ryan Jensen is a seventh grader at Union Middle School.

Union's Jensen earns All-American honors

By Dick Sparrer

Ryan Jensen is living proof that good things come in small packages.

The Union Middle School seventh-grader is just 4-foot-5 and 65 pounds. But the 12-year-old has already done big things as a cross-country runner.

"Ryan is a little runner with a big heart," said Willie Harmatz of the Los Gatos Athletic Association. "He's a very gifted runner with a big future."

Harmatz should know. He's coached many of the area's best during his years as the track and cross-country coach at Los Gatos High School. And he's currently working with Ryan's father, Kevin, to coach the younger Jensen in his quest to become one of the best.

He's already off to a fast start. Jensen won Junior Olympic All-American honors after placing 16th in the 234-runner field at the Junior Olympic National Age Group Cross Country Championships held Dec. 20 in Portland, Ore.

Jensen covered the 3,000 meters in 12:44, finishing sixth in his age group among runners from California. He ended up 16th overall, and the top 25 finishers earned All-American honors.

"Ryan was in a collision at the start, then passed runner after runner throughout the race to finish 16th," Harmatz said.

Jensen had qualified for the nationals by finished sixth at the state Junior Olympic qualifying meet a week before the Nationals.

He had finished first for Union in the league championships for seventh graders earlier in the year, and he went on to finish third in the county finals. He had won the league and county titles as a sixth-grader.

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