Barajas Cross Country Bio / Barajas Track and Field Bio
PALATINE, Ill. – In his two years at Harper College, Juan Barajas (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg) dominated in both cross country and track and field. Barajas' excellence and consistency in both sports is now paying off, as he recently committed to Eastern Illinois University.
Barajas will compete for the Panthers, a NCAA Div. I school and member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern Illinois University (EIU) is coached in cross country by Erin Howarth, who was hired as the head coach in 2010 and has made a big impact on the EIU cross country program. Howarth is also an assistant track coach and coaches the distance runners.
Barajas isn't the first Harper Hawk to head to EIU on scholarship for cross country and track and field. Former Harper College Male Athlete of the Year Pablo Ramirez competed for the Panthers after his time at Harper and recently graduated from the school.
Barajas left his mark in cross country for Harper. In the fall 2013 season, Barajas placed eighth at nationals to earn All-American status for a Hawks team that won its third straight national title. At the 2014 DIII Men's Cross Country National Championship, Barajas led Harper to its fourth straight national title and captured the individual title.
On the track, he had an outstanding two seasons for Harper. As a freshman, the Schaumburg High School grad placed second in both the 5k and 10k to earn All-American status in both events at the national meet. As a sophomore, he excelled at the 2015 NJCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Championship, winning the 5k national title by nearly 15 seconds and placing second in the 10k for a Hawks team that placed second in the nation.
Barajas was also honored in the inaugural U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field awards as the Central Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year.
"I'll remember his dedication and work ethic," said Harper head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Jim Macnider. "He was just an extremely coachable kid and always followed through when you gave him advice."
Macnider and Barajas have shared a bond dating back to Juan's sophomore year at Schaumburg High School when Macnider was coaching there.
"I came here to get some more training with him. He helped get me stronger through these two years with the help of assistant coach Eric Wallor as well," Barajas said.
Academically, he currently holds a 3.14 GPA and is finishing up his Associate in Arts Degree this summer. Barajas would like to get his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from EIU and eventually go to a chiropractic school. He says he'll miss a lot about Harper but is also expectant for the future.
"I'll miss all my friends at Harper, especially on the cross country and track teams," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting to meet new people and being able to run."
