Summit's Clayton Jero (2361) and Bjorn Blankenship (2348) compete in the 1,500 meters during the Class 5A state track and field championships at Eugene's Hayward Field in May. (John Lariviere/CMG photo)Summit's Bjorn Blankenship (left) and Clayton Jero (right), pictured here after practice at Bend's Riverbend Park on Wednesday, have become two of the nation's top distance runners. Blankenship placed third in 8:46.32 while Jero finished sixth in 8:49.11. In the 1-mile race at nationals, Jero finished 20th overall and Blankenship finished 36th. “Having the consistency that we had during track allowed us to see what is possible going into this cross-country season,” Jero said.