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Johnston ’23 Races Into the Record Books at Cuyahoga Valley 5K

James Johnston ’23 celebrates his first-place finish at the Cuyahoga Valley Cross Country 5K, where he set a new course record.
Johnston ’23 Races Into the Record Books at Cuyahoga Valley 5K

Old Trail School alumnus James Johnston ’23 made a memorable return to campus this summer, racing his way into the record books at the fourth annual Cuyahoga Valley Cross Country 5K.

Johnston captured first place in the June race with a course-record time of 17:04.5, leading the field across the finish line on Old Trail’s challenging cross-country course through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Now a senior and standout runner at Western Reserve Academy, Johnston is no stranger to the event. He has returned to compete in the Cuyahoga Valley 5K multiple times since graduating from Old Trail, making this year’s record-setting victory on his former home course especially meaningful.

His performance was one of many highlights from the largest Cuyahoga Valley Cross Country 5K to date. More than 300 participants joined this year’s 5K and Kids Dash, including nearly 200 runners who tackled the 5K course. Participants traveled from communities across Ohio and the surrounding region for a morning of competition, community and outdoor fun on Old Trail’s 62-acre campus.

Runners race across the Old Trail campus at the start of the Cuyahoga Valley 5K.

Since its launch four years ago, the event has grown into an annual opportunity to welcome runners of all ages and abilities to Old Trail and experience a course unlike many others in Northeast Ohio.

For Johnston, however, this year’s race offered something more: an opportunity to return to a familiar place and leave with a new record to his name.

Congratulations to James on an outstanding achievement and to the runners, volunteers, sponsors and community members who helped make the fourth annual Cuyahoga Valley Cross Country 5K the largest and most successful yet.

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