PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots men's cross country program has signed top recruit Justin Hazell, who will join the Pilots on the Bluff in the fall of 2018.
 
Hazell, a native of Woodland Hills Calif., currently holds the third fastest 3200 time (8:54) in the nation among juniors in 2017. Running for El Camilo Real HS, he also won the Woodbridge Invitational and the Clovis Invitational this fall, which rank as two of the best high school cross country meets in California.
 
"Mile for mile, Justin might be the top prospect in the nation," said head coach Rob Conner. "His upside is through the roof. What we love about Justin is that in addition to his athletic ability he is a humble and modest young man who wants to contribute to our team goal of winning a national championship."
 
Hazell ranks No.10 on FloTrack's 2018 High School Distance Class Ranking and is No.43 on MileSplit's Top-50 Class of 2018 for Boys Recruits.