Ellwood City Area Hall of Fame: Jake Walker, LHS Class of 2002 Athlete, Still Running Strong

Note: This is the seventh story in a series highlighting the Ellwood City Area Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2022 leading up to the induction of the 2023 Hall of Fame class that will be announced at tonight’s Homecoming Game.

Jake Walker has been running his entire life.

And the 2006 LHS graduate and Ellwood City Area Hall of Fame class of 2022 standout athlete still runs today.

Running “runs” in his blood. His dad was a runner.

“He encouraged me to go out for the cross-country team.  He knew I had the potential to be a good runner.”

His dad was right.

While a student athlete at Lincoln, Walker was a 4-year letterman in both cross country and track. He won 2 state championship track titles: 2006 PIAA AA outdoor 3,200-meter in 9:04.31 and 2005 PA Indoor 3000-meter state champion in 8:36.83.

He also had a 3,000-meter personal best time of 8:21.94 (10t h fastest in the nation that year) at the 2006 Penn Relays; 4th place at the 2005 PIAA AA cross country championships; and 1600-meter personal best of 4:13.26 at the 2006 Baldwin Invitational.

Upon graduation, Walker attended the University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the cross country and track teams from 2006-2010.

Although he left Ellwood City after graduation and now lives in Wilmington, NC, Walker hasn’t forgotten his favorite memories of Ellwood City.

“My favorite memory was the 4th of July festival every year, running the 10k, and eating pepperoni puffs.”

He said all the teachers he had in the Ellwood City Area School District were supportive.

He also said his mom has been a major influence in this life.

“Special shoutout to Mom who always showed up for me and sacrificed a lot of her time and energy.  My accomplishments would have been impossible without her.”

2006 LHS graduate, Jake Walker

When he looks back at his younger self, he was always a driven athlete. Whether aspiring to be like his favorite athlete Michael Jordan when he was 10 or when he was in eighth grade and setting goals to make it to the state championships.

“I remember watching the PA state track championships on TV when I was in 8th grade and desperately wanting to qualify for the championships someday.  Fast forward two years and I was competing at the state championships.  Something that felt so far off at that moment ended up becoming a reality through hard work and the support of my family, teammates, and coaches.”

Life after athletics was challenging for Walker.

“I know this might sound trite but adapting to life after athletics.  Learning to find contentment and joy in the small and everyday things of life instead of the next big race or competition.”

And although Walker still enjoys running, he also plays video games and loves spending time with him family including his wife Steph and his three daughters Maggie, Mylah, and Eden.

“Now my days consist of working an office job most of the day.  Spending time with family after work.  I still try to squeeze in a workout or run most days around lunchtime or in the evenings.”

And in his daily life, Walker stays just as focused as he was as an athlete.

“I write down and visualize goals and then take the necessary steps to achieve those goals.  This does not just apply to athletics but to relationships, finances, or any other area of life.”

Despite all his accomplishments in running he is most proud of the impact he had on other runners.

“Hopefully I inspired other runners, teammates, or people to achieve something greater and not settle for being average.”

He said his most proud race was a 5K in college where he ran 13:55.