2008 Woodie Awards
Jennings poised for breakout cross-country season
Clif Duquette '08
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Sports
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On Aug. 31 at the Haverford Time Trial, Hawk runner Jim Jennings, '10, flew in with the loudest landing for St. Joe's. Finishing with the squad's fastest time of 16:05 on the three-mile course, he led the team by placing fourth overall in the cross-country team's first meet of the season.
For most runners, this eye-catching way to start the season would be a pleasant surprise for them.
Jennings didn't think so.
"That race actually didn't go as well as I thought it would," said Jennings. "I thought I'd begin the season with a faster time."
But while Jennings may have thought of his performance as surprisingly subpar, it was still amazing considering he started running competitively only a few years ago.
Entering the fall of his sophomore year in high school, Jennings expected to be returning to the Salesianum High School soccer team, on which he had played the year before. Shortly before the season, began, however, he was given a blessing in disguise by getting cut from the team.
"I felt kind of bad at first," he said. "But when our varsity team ended up being ranked eighth in the nation, I felt better, because at least I could say I got cut from one of the best teams in the nation."
Wanting to stay active, Jennings decided to start running after his friends suggested that he join the cross-country team, which was also among the best in the country.
"I guess they thought I had the physique of a runner," Jennings said.
His friends turned out to be pretty good judges of running talent. Jennings started his junior year 10th on a 95 man team that finished the season winning the state championship. Strangely, though, Jennings was not overly surprised with his newfound niche in sports.
"To be honest, it wasn't all that tough of a transition, because I had run a lot for soccer anyway and we didn't do very much mileage in high school anyway. On the other hand, I hadn't run competitively before, so I didn't know how good I'd be," he said.
For most runners, this eye-catching way to start the season would be a pleasant surprise for them.
Jennings didn't think so.
"That race actually didn't go as well as I thought it would," said Jennings. "I thought I'd begin the season with a faster time."
But while Jennings may have thought of his performance as surprisingly subpar, it was still amazing considering he started running competitively only a few years ago.
Entering the fall of his sophomore year in high school, Jennings expected to be returning to the Salesianum High School soccer team, on which he had played the year before. Shortly before the season, began, however, he was given a blessing in disguise by getting cut from the team.
"I felt kind of bad at first," he said. "But when our varsity team ended up being ranked eighth in the nation, I felt better, because at least I could say I got cut from one of the best teams in the nation."
Wanting to stay active, Jennings decided to start running after his friends suggested that he join the cross-country team, which was also among the best in the country.
"I guess they thought I had the physique of a runner," Jennings said.
His friends turned out to be pretty good judges of running talent. Jennings started his junior year 10th on a 95 man team that finished the season winning the state championship. Strangely, though, Jennings was not overly surprised with his newfound niche in sports.
"To be honest, it wasn't all that tough of a transition, because I had run a lot for soccer anyway and we didn't do very much mileage in high school anyway. On the other hand, I hadn't run competitively before, so I didn't know how good I'd be," he said.
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