Alejandro Chaves and Ignacio Veloz Bonilla are two different individuals at two different ages and two different points in their running careers. But the two share a unique bond, brought together by their similarities – one home territory, one University and a love for one sport.

On Saturday, Dec. 16, they absorbed an experience that would have been special enough apart but was even more majestic together – competing in the Puerto Rican Cross Country Championships. Veloz Bonilla, a two-time Valpo graduate with a civil engineering degree and a Master’s in Business Administration, finished as the national runner-up. Chaves, a freshman biology major at Valpo, took ninth in the event.

“I’ve known Alejandro since he was in third or fourth grade,” Veloz Bonilla said. “He’s like a little brother to me. Seeing him grow up and get to the point where he is able to come here and compete at the D1 level is something that I’m very proud of. Just to see his growth in the sport makes me really proud of him. I wouldn’t want to share this with anyone else. It’s been a journey and I love every single part of it. Being able to train with him, work out with him and compete alongside him is very cool and isn’t something I take for granted.”

“It helps me a lot mentally to train with Ignacio,” Chaves said. “Back at Valpo training, at first, I wasn’t prepared, but I knew I was ready after training with him. He has been there for me since fourth grade and throughout high school. He’s like a brother to me, and I appreciate what he does.”

After five years of competing for the Brown & Gold, Veloz Bonilla chose to remain in the area, using his Valpo degrees by accepting a job at Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. in Crown Point. At the same time, he is an assistant coach to Valpo Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Vincent Walker and continues to train with the team. Every day, he wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to head to work, finishes his work day at 3 p.m., and then makes his way to practice.

“It wasn’t easy at first because when you’re not in shape at the beginning of the year and you have to hit your mileage every week after work, it is tough mentally and physically,” Veloz Bonilla said. “As the year went on, it got easier, and I can see myself doing this until I achieve my goals and dreams. Everyone at work has been super helpful and flexible with me and my schedule, giving me the ability to do both, work and train.”

Veloz Bonilla said he clicked right away with Walker, who came in late during his fourth year, leading to his decision to stay for a fifth season of competition and eventually stay in the area this year despite the fact that his collegiate eligibility has come to an end.

“Ignacio is a recordholder for our program and at the end of his career, he asked if I would continue to coach him,” Walker said. “He wanted to stay in Valpo and loves the community and team. To watch him run in front of his hometown crowd and be national runner-up was really special.”

“Needless to say, without the support of the athletic department and Valparaiso University, none of this would have been possible,” Veloz Bonilla said. “The support that the University and coaching staff have given me is something that I’ll always remember. I am so grateful to the University, Dr. Charles Small and Coach Walker for the opportunity to pursue my dream.”

For Chaves, the chance to compete at the Puerto Rican National Championships came as a bit of a pleasant surprise. He was originally nervous that he wouldn’t be in shape because when he learned the news that he would have the opportunity to compete in the championships, he had just come off his down time following the end of the Valpo cross country season.

“It was a great experience that any athlete would dream of,” Chaves said. “It was a challenging race because I took a two-week break after finishing our season at Valpo, then I got a call saying I would have the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico. I wasn’t going to take that for granted. I started training and Coach helped me a lot through this process. I thank God, my family, Coach, my colleagues and Valpo for helping me achieve these goals.”

By finishing in the top five in the junior division, Chaves has earned the right to go to El Salvador, where he will compete in February wearing “Puerto Rico” across his chest.

“The success of Ignacio and Alejandro proves that you can compete on the biggest stage here at Valpo,” Walker said. “You can go to nationals and accomplish goals at that level as part of our program. We have athletes here that are developing to accomplish those really big goals.”