Ben Davis is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cactus Shadows High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX -- A passion for sports and a need for speed have empowered Cactus Shadows freshman Jonathan Berger to dedicate his mornings to cross country, with hopes of one day making it to the Olympics.

After five years of commitment to the sport, Jonathan achieved a major milestone by winning a medal at the Glendale Showcase meet in early October. He recorded a personal-best time and finished faster than 104 other runners.

“That was one of the best times I've ever had,” Jonathan said. “I've never had a cross country medal. It took me five years.”

His development at Cactus Shadows has already produced standout performances. One of Jonathan’s new goals is to run a sub-20-minute 5K at a meet. Cactus Shadows coach Jeff Powell believes Jonathan can accomplish that by next year, and go on to become a key runner for the school’s cross country team.

“With the way John has progressed this year, sub-20 will be next year no doubt,” Powell said. 

“Johnny can be one of the top runners on our team within two years, a year…I think he's limiting himself when he says 20.” Powell added. “I think by the time he leaves Cactus Shadows and is done with our program, he'll be in the 17s, possibly in the 16s or even faster.”

When he was younger, Jonathan -- who has high-functioning autism -- struggled to find a sport that felt like the right fit. His mother, Tania Novela, reflected on the discovery of cross country in elementary school. 

“In third and fourth grade, we tried basketball and he didn’t do well, so I told him let’s try cross country and if he didn’t like it we won’t do it again,” Tania said. 

His father, Robert, spoke about the benefits of Jonathan’s cross country participation, including the community- building and goal-setting it creates. 

“It's good, not only for cross country, but just for him in general,” Robert said. “It really helps him integrate with his team members, his schoolmates, and gives him goals to shoot for. So it's been good.”

While autism can affect verbal and nonverbal communication, Jonathan’s family and coaches affirm it’s had no impact on his ability to connect with others and become integrated into the Cactus Shadows community. 

“The cross country kids have accepted Jonathan the way he is and look after him in a sense. I do believe it’s like a family,” Tania said. “From what I’ve seen, going to the meets, they just accept him the way he is.”

Powell said he provides no additional cushioning for Jonathan and holds him to the same bar as every other member of the team.

“He’s one of the guys,” Powell said. “I look at Johnny as one of the guys -- he’s no different to me than other teammates. I expect the same. There’s no special treatment.

“You show up and do the work. I had to get on him the other day -- he slowed down -- and I said ‘Let’s go, Johnny,’ and he picked it up.”

Jonathan views his autism as just one part of him, but not a majorly defining characteristic or something that can hold him back. 

“A lot of people know I have it, but I just forget it. I don't care if I have it, I'm just gonna stick with what I have,” Berger said. “There’s one Olympic commercial that said…’you're only born once and you only get one body’.”

Racing at the Olympics is a potential dream for Jonathan as his high school career continues. Jonathan’s interest in the Olympics isn’t purely about the competition, but also the location. The Olympic Track and Field Trials are historically held at the University of Oregon, a program he’d love to be a part of. 

What some see as a weakness, or a limitation, has been a strength for Jonathan as he deepens his focus into cross country at Cactus Shadows. Finding community with his teammates and clarity on his competitive goals, his autism is not a flaw to fix, but simply one of the many things that make him who he is. Instead of an obstacle preventing him from success, it’s become a ladder leading him towards it. 

Jonathan earned his second cross-country medal at the Talon Invitational on Oct. 25, and set a personal record of 20:21.3.