2017 Track Roster
Roster
Josh Ortega
- Height:
- 5-11
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Clairemont, Calif.
- High School:
- High Tech HS
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2017 (FR): Ran at six of eight meets ... Part of a school record 4x400 relay team ... Ran the 400 (best of 52.80 at Pomona-Pitzer on 4/8), the 800 (best of 2:03.01 at Riverside CC on 3/4) and the 1,500.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from High Tech High School, located in San Diego, Calif., in 2016 ... Ran four years of varsity cross country and track ... Earned sixth-place CIF finishes in the 800 meters as a junior and senior, and set the school record ... Won Frontier Conference titles in the 800 meters as a junior (was second as a senior) and in the 4x400 as both a junior and senior ... Team qualified for the state cross country meet his junior year ... Won multiple league championships in both sports ... An All-Academic Athlete.
PERSONAL: Born in San Diego, Calif. ... Son of Joe and Yvette Ortega ... Has two siblings, Dylan and Michael, who both attended Pepperdine ... Majoring in business administration ... Chose Pepperdine because "of the beautiful campus and gorgeous surrounding area. I love surfing and the beaches here are some of the best surf spots on the entire West Coast. I also love the fact that Pepperdine is a small school with great academics because my high school was very similar. Lastly, both my brothers came here and studied abroad and I have been looking forward to that since the eighth grade."
FAVORITES: Enjoys surfing, backpacking, camping and playing guitar ... Favorites include Brian Scalabrine (pro athlete), Boston Red Sox (pro sports team), Into the Wild (book), Interstellar (movie), The Office (TV show), Mumford and Sons (musical artist) and In-N-Out (food) ... Favorite thing about running is "the direct correlation between effort and results. The more you put into the sport, the more accomplished and proud you will feel. If you work hard, you will do well and there is no one more in control of the race than yourself."
