Souderton goes soaring into PIAA Championships
CALN >> It was a tremendous jump: 21 feet, 11 inches, taking him all the way to the top of the medal stand.
Everything for Souderton Area’s Shamar Jenkins was perfect: his speed on the approach, his landing, his height, all enabling the junior to soar to that 21-11.
But there was another measurement Jenkins spoke of — after receiving his gold medal — that was far more jarring, a measurement in adversity.
“I got eight feet of my intestines removed,” Jenkins explained, speaking of a surgery he had back in October in order to remove a bowel obstruction, “so that kinda brought my level of confidence down.”
Jenkins, courageously, has battled back.
The junior has worked all spring to get back to where he needed to be — both mentally and physically — and that came through Saturday in an impressive performance at the District One Class AAA Championships.
“I knew I was a good athlete but I had to believe I could do it again,” he said, “and know that I’m one of the top jumpers out here.”
Jenkins earned a fourth-place medal last year in the triple jump at districts. This year, he earned silver in the triple and also a gold in the long, topping a field that included William Tennent’s Stephen Testa (21-09.75), along with duo James Holt (21-9) and Darian Alston (21-6.25) of powerful Downingtown West, the eventual Class AAA team champ.
“It’s confidence,” Jenkins said of what carried him to the win. “I don’t want to get in my head, I just wanna let it all happen. That’s just how it is for me.”
The obstacles he faced only seemed to add to his resolve. He spoke with conviction.
“I know I’m one of the top jumpers out here and I know I could be really good,” Jenkins said. “I just have to set my mind to it.”
Souderton Area’s success did not stop there.
Junior Stephen Scott raced to a victory in the 300 hurdles, crossing the finish line with a gold-medal time of 39.05 seconds.
“I’m so happy. I killed the first hurdle and I was like ‘oh, man,’ I don’t wanna start like this,” said Scott, who outraced William Tennent’s Stephen Testa for the top spot. “I surged back the last 100 and it felt good. I’m happy.
“(Being able to beat Testa) adds to it a lot because I was in a race with him yesterday (in prelims) and he got first and I was a little bit behind him. I wanted to make sure I really went out this time.”
Scott’s abilities added to a big Souderton group heading to states, as Jenkins, Scott, Colin Harker (110 hurdles), Moira O’Malley (high jump) and Emily Bonaventure (1,600) are all making the trip.
“I’m happy that my other teammates and I can go represent Souderton at Shippensburg,” Scott said. “It’s gonna be really fun and we should be able to get some medals.”
