Running down a dream

Cresenciano Bernardo, better known as Chano, not only makes the news with a smile, he delivers it to your home with the same smile.

On Saturday morning at the Palatine Invite, Bernardo crossed the finish line in sixth place with a time of 14:39.2 to lead the Pirates to a third-place finish.

Then on Sunday morning the 5-foot-3 inch junior was delivering the news on his 390-house, 10-mile route for the Daily Herald, finishing the route a little after 7 a.m.

And both jobs were done with the same smile.

This isn't a one-day deal either; Bernardo is up at 2 a.m. working his route 360 days a year, only resting on days of a meet or when he is sick.

He then is off to school, followed by a two-hour practice. The junior then has time for a quick dinner and homework before retiring to bed between 9-and 10 p.m., and repeating the process once again.

"I don't know if I could live that life," said Palatine coach Chris Quick of Bernardo's schedule. "He's never slumped over or grumpy, he's always enthusiastic and that's what everybody likes."

Asked how he keeps up such a grinding schedule, Bernardo gave a shrug and his characteristic smile.

"I don't know, but you have to do it," said Bernardo, "It was hard in the beginning but you get used to it."

What people are getting used to is his performance as a runner. Bernardo finished 36th at the state meet as a sophomore despite competing with a sprained ankle, helping the Pirates secure a third-place trophy.

This year Bernardo has taken over as the lead runner for Palatine, and there has been no let-up. He finished fifth at the Hinsdale Central Invite on Sept. 6, then finished sixth at the Peoria Notre Dame Invite on Sept. 20.

"As a runner he is one of the best in his grade," added Quick, "We have four senior co-captains but he's kind of the leader and should be all-state."

"He's stepping up for our team," said junior Alec Bollman, the Pirates' No. 2 runner who finished 14th at the Palatine Invite. "Without him we wouldn't be here right now."

But what is even more important is that Bernardo has stepped up for his family. Chano and his family moved to the United States from Puebla, Mexico in 2001. He has been helping with the family paper route since seventh grade.

Bernardo has faced the early morning elements with same determination he faces each race.

There was nothing too bright about Sunday morning except for the streetlights glimmering in the predawn hours. But Bernardo was wearing the same smile he flashed when he crossed the finish line the day before brightening the streets surrounding downtown Palatine.

Bernardo and his older brother Jose zig-zagged the deserted streets, carefully hitting their targets.

Jose was quick to compliment his brother not only for his running, but also for his work ethic.

"Certainly I'm proud because he is my only brother," added Jose, whose family also has 7 girls. "We read about what he is doing, and it's good to see my brother helping with the newspapers in the morning. He's pretty much busy the whole week, even on weekends."

And it hasn't been easy for Bernardo in school, where he has had to deal with the language barrier. But just like running and his newspaper route, he deals with it and has succeeded.

"He's moving up in all areas and his English is improving," added Quick. "He has to work just as hard in his classes."

"He didn't know much English his freshman year," added Bollman. "So it was hard to communicate, but he has come really far."

But Bernardo does not want to hear about how tough it is, whether it is on the course, in the classroom, or on his job.

"It's hard but sometimes I enjoy it," added Bernardo of his daily grind. "Basically we're just trying to make a better life, to do that we have to do something."

Bernardo is chasing several dreams, really - to become the first member in his family to go to college; to run in college; and to ultimately succceed in a career that will help his family.

"It's a typical immigrant story," said Quick of Chano and his family's struggles. "It's a big family that works really hard, and are good, good people - it takes a lot.

"I enjoy that he is becoming someone. His parents work hard and he works hard with his parents to have an opportunity. You see so many kids waste an opportunity, and he has taken advantage of it."

Bernardo's dream is shared by his father Andres and mother Ymelda.

"It was difficult," said Andres, in Spanish and translated by his son Jose, of the move from Puebla to Palatine. "But you have to try and get a better life."

The streets of Palatine were picking up a bit with activity as Chano and his brother Jose completed their route on Sunday. Even in the early morning the two had to deal with small hurdle - fixing a flat tire - but it didn't delay the pair for long.

Bernardo then finally had a quiet moment to reflect on that dream.

"We're trying," added Bernardo, "That is basically my goal, to get to college. Running has opened many doors. I'd like to get a career on my own, then help my parents so they can stop working."

One thing you can count on is Bernardo will not stop working toward that dream. Just take a peek outside some morning.