Juan Ward finds redemption through second chance at life
Juan Ward began running cross country in eighth grade. In ninth grade, he transitioned
to jumping and then to hurdling. He competed in hurdles for Long Beach Polytechnic
High School. After graduating high school in 2014, he headed to Southern University
in Baton Rouge. During high school, Juan became a father to a daughter, and adjusting
to being away from her while in college proved challenging. He struggled to balance
his academics and athletics at Southern University and ultimately returned to Long
Beach after just one semester.
Juan joined the Cerritos College Track and Field team in January 2015, having known its coaches, Chris Richardson and Morris Jones Jr., since he was 14. He had a promising start to the season, setting a school record. Coach Richardson reflects, “Juan was on a path to solidifying himself as one of the best hurdlers in the country.” However, during the regional competitions, he faced a tremendous mental challenge due to the murder of his best friend. Struggling to focus on racing, he decided to stop running and dropped out of school.
Losing his best friend profoundly affected Juan's mental health. He found it difficult to process his grief, struggled to trust people, and often failed to recognize those who genuinely cared for him. As a result, Juan spent more and more time on the streets, which ultimately led to a 15-year prison sentence.
During his time in prison, Juan made significant progress in self-improvement. He pursued higher education, earning associate degrees, a doctorate in theology, and a ministry license. He also authored a book. Despite being separated from his young daughter and wife, whom he met when he was 18, Juan was motivated by his faith in God and his desire to reunite with his family.
Demonstrating exemplary behavior, Juan became a firefighter in his eighth year of incarceration. He contributed to fire rescues and provided medical aid as an institutional firefighter for the local fire department. His positive impact and successful efforts at reintegration led to his release in August 2023.
Juan began working as a personal trainer at L.A. Fitness near the campus. One day in October 2023, he called Coach Richardson to catch up. During their conversation, Coach jokingly suggested it would be great if Juan started running again. This lighthearted remark reignited Juan’s passion for hurdles. He was still eligible to compete since he hadn’t finished his semester at Cerritos College in 2015.
Motivated, Juan started training again and earned a spot on the Cerritos College Track and Field team for the spring 2024 season. How did he perform? After nearly a ten-year gap, Juan secured second place in the state championship in May. “I was so close to winning first place,” Juan said with a smile. “But it’s rare for an athlete to take such a long break and return to compete at the same level.”
To honor his tenacity, the Cerritos College Track and Field Program recently established The Juan Ward Perseverance Award, and he was the inaugural recipient.
Juan’s 11-year-old daughter is witnessing him excel in his element, and she is inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps in track and field. Unlike when he was 18, Juan is now maintaining high academic standards. He plans to transfer to Cal State Los Angeles or Concordia University on an athletic scholarship. Juan aims to compete in the 2028 Olympics, representing Belize, the country his grandfather came from.
Between work, ministry, family, academics, and his hurdling training, he has much more to manage now than when he started at Southern University a decade ago. Throughout his journey of incarceration, redemption, and spiritual growth, Juan has developed a renewed focus on making the most of his second chance at life.
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