Dec 10, 2023 2 min read

Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak placed second at the Foot Locker High School Cross Country National Championships held in San Diego.

Pajak 2nd in national championships

SAN DIEGO – Ringgold High School senior Ryan Pajak had his remarkable cross country season end Saturday with a silver medal at the Foot Locker National Championships.

Pajak was part of a 1-2 finish for the WPIAL in the event that was held at Balboa Park.

It’s only the sixth time athletes from the same state have gone 1-2 in the meet’s 44-year history.

Butler senior Drew Griffith won the race in a time of 15:06.9. Pajak, the WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A champion, was about five seconds behind Griffith, covering the 5K course in a time of 15:12.1.

Pajak had defeated Griffith by three seconds at the Northeast Regional.

Pajak and Griffith, who will be teammates next season at Notre Dame, were the only WPIAL runners to finish in the top 26 in the 40-runner field. Tamrat Gavenas of Andover, Mass., was third in 15.16.6.

Griffith and Pajak each made their move to the front between the 2- and 3-mile marks. Griffith was in fifth place after two miles while Pajak was eighth. At three miles, they were running 1-2 with Griffith in front.

Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak placed second at the Foot Locker High School Cross Country National Championships held in San Diego.