Hall of Fame
From the spring of 1978 until his graduation, Jaime Najera served as one of the top distance runners in the region. A three-year period of dominance during which he earned all-state recognition every year, Najera finished a sparkling high school career as a five-time district champion, nine-time all-district selection and six-time all-state performer. He established a school record in the 800-meter run that stood for 18 years and was a two-time Ranger Heart winner. In his senior year, he won the district championship in cross country before earning all-state laurels in the 800m, mile and mile relay.
Following graduation, Najera accepted an athletic scholarship to Rice University where he was a four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track. During his tenure with the Owls, Najera paced the cross country team to a pair of third-place finishes at the Southwest Conference Championships as well as back-to-back third-place efforts at the 1981 and 1982 NCAA Regional Championships. In 1984, Najera set a 10K record for the Plano Pacers Club with a time of 31:37, a mark that still stands 30 years later.
