As Elizabethtown College Communications major Benjamin Ortiz Jaque ’26 stood on top of the modern pentathlon podium at the 2024 U.S. National Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. this past July, it was the first time he had won a major competition in the sport.
It was also less than a year after Ortiz Jaque, a member of Etown’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams, nearly left the sport he had grown to love and has competed in since he was 11 years old.
After failing to qualify for the Pan American Games in the modern pentathlon in October 2023, Ortiz Jaque’s future in the sport was uncertain until a meeting with Elizabethtown College Director of Cross Country/Track & Field, Brian Falk.
“Coach Falk has always supported me, and he said to me then that I had two options, either quit or keep going,” Ortiz Jaque said. “I decided on the second one, and here I am.”
Benjamin Ortiz Jaque ’26 stands atop the podium at the U.S. National Open this summer.
Less than a year later, Ortiz Jaque found himself with a gold medal around his neck after representing his home nation of Chile at the U.S. National Open. His win also secured his spot in the 2024 South & Pan American Senior Championships, which will be held in Brazil in December.
“When I stood up on the podium and saw my gold medal, I took in the moment, but at the same time, I know it’s just the beginning of something bigger and I’m going to keep working hard,” Ortiz Jaque said.
Modern pentathlon consists of five events: cross-country running, laser pistol shooting, equestrian show jumping, freestyle swimming, and fencing.
Ortiz Jaque began competing because he didn’t feel a draw for any one sport. He had the full support of his mother, Sandra, and father, Alfonso, who won the Pan-American title in the military pentathlon for the Chilean Air Force in 1987. A native of Santiago, Chile, Ortiz Jaque competed in his home country throughout his grade school and high school years and trained in countries throughout Europe, including with the Hungarian Olympic team.
When his family moved to Harrisburg, Pa. in April 2022, Ortiz Jaque agreed to look at colleges in the area, although he wasn’t convinced he wanted to pursue higher education. When he came to Etown, everything changed.
“I went to many colleges, but when I came to Etown, the reception was amazing,” Ortiz Jaque said. “Coach Falk has been really honest with me and told me that he could help me with the running qualifications [for modern pentathlon] if I competed in cross country and track. Even though he knew I might have to miss some of the meets, he went out of his way to help me anyway.”
Ortiz Jaque trains year-round in each event. He runs and swims using various athletic facilities on campus and practices additional pentathlon events in the surrounding area.
“At Etown, you have all the resources to be a really good student-athlete and reach the top of your sport,” Ortiz Jaque said. “The support I receive from staff and fellow Blue Jays at the College is one of the best I’ve experienced in my life.”
Although his next full pentathlon competition isn’t until December, Ortiz Jaque plans to participate in several local fencing competitions while continuing to compete for the Blue Jays in cross country and track & field.
