Red Oak employee brings home the gold

Carlos Cruz Carlos Cruz, yard supervisor at Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park, won gold and silver awards in his age group, 65 to 69, at the Western States Summer Police and Fire Olympic Games in Boise, Idaho last summer.

Cruz, 68, competed in six track and field events and placed in all events.

He won the gold in the 200 meter and 400 meter sprints. He earned silver for the 800 meter and 1,500 meter sprints, 4 x 100 meter relay (running anchor), and 4 x 400 meter race (first out).

Cruz trains for the games by running two to three miles each day and by adding sprints a month before the event.

He began running 20 years ago when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and was retired from the Highway Patrol after 20 years of service. Running was a way of handling the complications of diabetes.

Cruz has set new goals of running in the next Los Angeles Marathon and returning to the Police and Fire Olympics to break the records in his age group for his events.