Chapel Hill High School cadet Marlon Cruz-Johnson has once again put on an outstanding 
performance at the Navy JROTC Orienteering Nationals. Cruz-Johnson, a cadet from Chapel Hill's NJROTC program, recently achieved an impressive eighth-place finish. The competition, held in March at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama, brought together the top 100 cadets from across the country.
This marks Cruz-Johnson's second consecutive year representing Chapel Hill at the national level. Cruz-Johnson competed as an advanced runner and outperformed over 2,500 advanced runners in his category nationwide.
Orienteering challenges athletes to navigate 4-5 kilometer courses through unfamiliar terrain, requiring both exceptional physical endurance and precise navigational skills. Competitors must locate control points using only a map and compass while racing against the clock.
The Douglas County School System celebrates Cruz-Johnson for his accomplishment and for representing Chapel Hill High School’s NJROTC unit at the national level.