High School: Ran for head coach David Chapa at Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco High School in Ben Bolt, Texas … district champion, area champion and All-Region in the 400m his senior year … qualified for regionals in the 4x100m … district champion, area champion and All-Region in the 4x400m … earned track MVP and All-Region honors in the 400m dash his sophomore, junior and senior seasons … also lettered in cross country, basketball and tennis … named cross country MVP his sophomore, junior and senior years, while earning tennis MVP honors his sophomore and junior years … also lettered in cross country, basketball and tennis.

Personal: Born Joe Christopher Hernandez on Oct. 3, 1991, in Corpus Christi, Texas … parents are Joe Hernandez and Marisela Contrerus … has two siblings, Marisel and Lariza … major is communications.