Bakersfield College men’s cross-country runner Juan Calderon stays humble while remaining one of the fastest runners on the team.

At age 22, Calderon carries himself with poise and the optimism of trying to put his hometown Arvin on the map.

Calderon has participated in cross-country and track and field for BC, remaining the top runner for the men’s cross-country team for the 2014 season. Through his first place win at the Bakersfield Invitational to present, Calderon has steadily improved his times.

“I have cut a lot of time off my run, and it’s steadily improving,” said Calderon.

Inspiring his family, Calderon has even encouraged his younger sister to participate in cross-country at Arvin High School.

While Calderon has been running since his sophomore year at Arvin High, he became the first student in 20 years to place first in the high school league in both track and field and cross-country. Calderon won first in the 4×4 relays, the 800m relays and the 1600m races. For the cross-country, Calderon placed first in the 5k. “It was insane to be first there, and so I had more experience with staying humble,” Calderon said about the first-place win.

Calderon attributes his success at BC to his family’s constant encouragement and the inspirational leadership from head coach Dave Frickel.

“Coach has taught me to be mentally strong,” Calderon said of Frickel. Along with his admiration of his coach, Calderon said Frickel is “great” and “like a dad, firm, but also cares a lot about his team,” Calderon said, “Coach really treats us like family.”

Calderon also said, “I think that a strong team and team support helps a lot with getting past mental blocks.”

While asked what a mental block can be, Calderon chuckles and replies, “Everything. You have to focus on your breathing and forget about everything. It’s just you, and the run and the mental block is anything that can distract your focus from the run.”

Calderon said, “The most important part of running any race in cross country is the downhill. It’s in the downhill of a run that I use my momentum to push myself, with a burst of explosive energy. I use the downhill to speed up.”

When Calderon contemplates his last five years of running, he also attributes some of his success to close friend Alex Gonzalez, also one of his fiercest competitors. “He is like a brother,” Calderon said.

“We knew each other competitively and always ran against each other in high school. Having Alex as a teammate has encouraged me to push myself even harder.”

Noting that both he and Gonzalez are from Arvin, he said, “I want the younger generations to be inspired that not only I can be good in sports, or I am not the only one that can run fast.”

Calderon continued, “We have a lot of talent in Kern County that goes unnoticed or unappreciated because there isn’t anyone guiding the athletes to believe in themselves. I love that the people of Arvin recognize me and my accomplishments, and are, hopefully, inspired to create their own accomplishments.”

Majoring in Industrial Engineering, Calderon doesn’t dispute that he may want to eventually coach.

“I would love to return to Arvin High as a coach, one day. I want to be known for something great, and it’s my opinion that coaches are the most inspirational people.”

His advice for anyone running or participating in sports is “get out there.” Calderon also said, “Don’t let anyone or anything intimidate you.”

Stealing Frickel’s favorite quote, Calderon wraps up by saying, “no one ever said it was going to be easy.”

Despite how effortless Calderon may make a 4-mile run appear, the level of endurance is apparent. Calderon will be sure to leave his mark on BC.

“I want everyone to look up to me for the positive things I am doing in my life. I have seen a lot of people go down wrong paths, and my younger siblings reminded me I could not afford to do the same. When people talk about me, I want my two little sisters and little brother to be able to say, ‘That’s my brother.’ That’s what really matters.”