From a young age, Severin John Blenkush III, also known as S.J., was an all-star athlete. “We always said that S.J. got the athletic marbles in the family,” says Angie Blenkush, S.J.’s mother and a math teacher at Saint John the Baptist Middle School.

            Blenkush was born in South Carolina at Shaw Air Force Base, and has grown up in various places around the world.  He lived in Denmark and many other areas in the U.S., such as California, Colorado, and Utah.  He came to Saint John’s in sixth grade and has participated and excelled in many sports such as cross country, football, and basketball, all in junior high.

            “I started running when I was in first grade with my dad,” says Blenkush. “I do it because I love it. It is a way that I can clear my head and I enjoy it.”

          Other than his dad, he is motivated by Steve Prefontaine, who ran the 3200 -- also known as two miles. Ryan Hall, a marathon runner, and Roger Bannister, the first runner to break a four-minute mile are his other favorite athletes.

            As a freshman at Juan Diego, Blenkush played football and, as a member of the track team, ran a 4:48 in the 1600-meter.  That race, a mile long, requires four laps around the track.  His coaches were thrilled that Blenkush made it to the region track meet at Wasatch High School as a freshman.

            Much to the dismay of many students and faculty of Juan Diego, S.J. and his family are moving to Virginia for S.J.’s father’s job as a colonel in the Air Force. “I honestly don’t want to move, but I guess it happens. I am going to miss my friends,” says Blenkush.

            In the future, Blenkush is looking forward to competing in the 800-meter, which is two laps around the track.   He plans to continuing competing in the 1600-meter as well as the steeplechase, which is an event in track at a collegiate level, similar to a horse race but without the horses.