CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Don’t blink! You don’t want to miss the Chino Hills Flash, led by head coach, Ben Mejia and assistant coach, Jasmine Johnson.  This running club was founded to inspire leadership amongst today’s youth. They started in 2007, with only 5 athletes, with dreams of making cross country nationals. Their team goal has remained the same, year after year, regardless of the talent or number of athletes they have had on their roster.

The club is divided into age divisions and genders which range from 8u, 9/10, 11/12, through 13/14. Teams consist of a total of 5 members. Some divisions do not have a full team, one of which is the 8U girls, but it has one of the top individuals in Southern California, Giannah Johnson, on it.  The 9/10 girls also have one of the top 10 individual racers in Southern California, Alexandra Smith.  The 13/14 boys spotlight one of the top Southern California male athletes, Ethan Dong. The club are proud to say the 8u boys, through hard work and discipline, have positioned themselves to be a top team in Southern California, led by Cash Johnson. The electrifying 11/12 girls team are led by the best 1-2 punch in team history, Grace Smith and Julianna Laurel. The very strong 11/12 boys are capable of great things by the end of the season, led by Luis Mateo Reyes. The 13/14 girls are certainly capable of being the best team ever for FLASH lead by Caitlynn Kraft and Maleah Johnson.

“Our club expects each member to be LEADERS!” states coach Ben.  They encourage all members to cheer on their teammates, whether they are a veteran runner, or new to the sport.  Coaches definitely want all members to feel supported. Leadership, so often in life, happens through doing.

Coach Ben also shares, “Running is about being relaxed and maintaining control.”  For those of us non-runners, this seems perplexing.  Running and relaxation do not seem to go together!  The training this club offers, the repetition, and miles logged, take this sport to the next level.

Being on a team is special.  There is nothing else like knowing you are a part of something good.  That you have like-minded people around you who have got your back and support you through the ups and downs.  This team honors each other by waiting at the finish line, cheering along the course, and by celebrating accomplishments with hugs and high fives.

One of their proudest moments was when Giannah Johnson broke the 2000-meter record for 8 and under girls and won her first cross country race.

Covid was challenging for this team as with any other. They trained, with no races, and are so excited for the opportunity to finally showcase all their hard work. Look for the Chino Hills Flash this year and catch them -if you can.

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