Samya Jenkins is really fast. So fast that she outruns her memory.
“At middle school I was winning every week and then I got to high school and went down to fourth and fifth,” the Lawrence High sophomore said. “It was kind of upsetting for me. But that’s the whole game of track. Every level you get to, it’s a better game and the competition pushes you.”
Well, first off, Jenkins fourth and fifths were actually firsts, seconds and thirds during most of the big meets her freshman year.
Secondly, she returned to getting a lot of firsts this past spring.
But when she didn’t, the sprinter was not happy
“She still gets very upset when she loses, no matter who it is against,” Cardinals head coach Tim Collins said. “I have always tried to give her context with her performances — compare how well she is doing compared to other freshmen in the state and it was the same this year with sophomores.
“I like when someone is upset because they didn’t beat other athletes. That shows me they care. At the same time, I don’t want it becoming a negative.”
There wasn’t much negative about the season for Jenkins.
Along with Zuzanna Trzasko, Sarah Conver and Sophie Trzaskus, she helped take sixth in the 4×400 meters in both the Colonial Valley Conference and Central Jersey Group III meets.
In the 100 meters she won the TCNJ High School Invitational, the CVC Freshman/Sophomore Meet and the CVC Championship (with a PR of 12.22). She took second in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III sectionals and fourth in the Group III meet, where a time of 12.35 got her a wild card entry into the Meet of Champions.
In the 200, Jenkins won the Frosh/Soph meet (PR of 25.16), the Mercer Coaches Classic and the CVC meet. She was second in the CJ sectionals and third in the Groups, giving her an automatic bid to the meet of Champs.
Jenkins finished 21st in the MOC 100 and 14th in the 200, just missing her PR with a time of 25.17.
“I’m definitely better in the 200 because I build up my speed,” Jenkins said. “My start in the 100 is pretty bad. I’ll be working on that so I’ll be better next year.”
Collins did not disagree.
“She doesn’t like the blocks!” the coach exclaimed. “She’ll be working on that this summer.”
Jenkins prepared for this season by working with teammate Soraya Parks at the Trenton Track Club last summer. She also worked out on her own with college students who were training for other sports such as soccer and baseball.
Her work gave her confidence.
“I just expected myself to go out there and do good this year,” she said. “The Meet of Champions was surreal. There were some amazing runners there. And having my coaches and my friends supporting me made it an amazing journey.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking being there; knowing I was going against the big dogs. I put my best foot forward and I prayed.”
Growing up in Trenton, Jenkins was always one of the fastest kids in her neighborhood. There were no track programs in the middle school so when she moved to Lawrenceville, she went out for the middle school team in seventh grade.
“I was always known as someone fast in Trenton,” she said. “So, when I tried out for the team I loved it. I loved working out with my friends and having coaches. I’m still in touch with my middle school coaches to talk about my track experience in high school.”
One of her current coaches who has made a big difference is LHS graduate Kelsey Holt, who works with the Cardinal sprinters.
“She’s like my right-hand man when it comes to track,” Jenkins said.
Holt recalled that when Jenkins arrived as a freshman, she was quiet and reserved.
“It was incredible to watch her break out of her shell and step into her potential this year,” the former All-County sprinter said. “She’s determined, coachable, and holds herself to a high standard.
“It’s been so much fun watching her start to progressively buy into the sport in all aspects; like training, competition and being a teammate. Samya pushes herself every day to be the best version of herself, and it’s a joy to coach someone so driven, yet so grounded.”
Despite her quietness as a freshman, Jenkins still sounded off when it came to running. In the 100 she won the Frosh/Soph meet, took third in the Mercer County meet, finished second in the CJ III sectionals and 12th in Groups. In the 200 she won the Rebel Frost/Soph meet and took third in the counties.
“We knew pretty early on in the races how good she was last year,” Collins said. “This year she has improved her efforts in her workouts and has more experience in big races, which has given her more confidence, which has led to more success.”
In winter track this year Jenkins won the 55 and 200 meters in the CVC meet and took third in the sectionals.
In the spring, she lifted herself to new levels, starting with the CVC meet.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” Jenkins said of her two golds. “It was really an amazing moment. Last year in the 100 I got third and I just wanted to come back 10 times harder and work harder to get first.”
The sprinter’s amazement over winning both races is kind of her trademark.
“Samya Jenkins is one of those rare athletes who continues to surprise even herself with how talented she truly is,” Holt said. “She approaches the sport with such humility; you’d never guess from meeting her that she’s one of the most gifted athletes on the track. “
In assessing some of those gifts, Holt pointed out Jenkins’ natural top-end speed, lean build, efficient body positioning and a powerful leg drive. Collins pointed out her competitive natur e.
“She’s still working to improve her start out of the blocks, a part of her race she’s very aware of,” Holt said. “She more than makes up for it with her ability to accelerate quickly and maintain a high-top speed down the stretch.
“Her mechanics and stride allow her to close races strong and pull ahead when it matters most. She’s a closer, and that’s what sets her apart.”
Jenkins isn’t thrilled about running in the 4×400 despite the fact she ran 57 split in the Group III meet. But Collins tells his athletes “You are sprinters and should be able to compete in the 100, 200 and 400. For sure she has great potential in all three.”
Her classroom potential isn’t too shabby either. Jenkins has a 3.6 grade point average and also works at the Every Child Valued program at Eggerts Crossing Village.
“They have an after-school program for little kids to come in and do their homework,” Jenkins said. “I have a lot of young siblings so I’m used to being around young kids.”
As her American Civics teacher, Collins enjoys seeing Jenkins potential off the track first-hand.
“I’m not sure she likes that, but it makes it easy for me to check in on her when I need to,” the coach said with a laugh. “She takes her education very seriously. She’s a great person. She is mature, funny and respectful. A fantastic representative for our school.”
She represented Lawrence well on June 8 at the USATF New Jersey Association Junior Olympics championships. Running with Trenton Track Club, she won the 100 in 12.49 and the 200 in 25.29.
“That was really scary because I never did AAU track before, I never competed with them,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t know what place I would come in or how my day was gonna by. But Soraya Parks’ family was very supportive. I knew I had people there cheering for me and I did my best.”
Jenkins will do some training this summer but won’t overwork herself.
“I just plan to take it one day at a time,” she said.
Collins likes that she will not go crazy with training, noting that at her age, it’s better to ease into things.
“Mentally, I just want my underclass athletes to compete hard and have fun,” he said. “I don’t want them stressing too much early on in their career. The exciting prospect is that she still has great potential for improvement as she is not as strong physically as she can be, which will come the next two years.”
Holt can’t wait to watch it happen.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the numbers Samya puts up,” she said. “The sky’s the limit for her and I can’t wait to see the person and athlete she grows into through the next two years on the track.”
For Jenkins, it is a path to bigger things beyond high school
“I definitely want to run track in college,” she said. “I’m passionate about the sport. I love all the workouts, running. The friendships and people I’ve run with over the year makes me love the sport even more.”
Lawrence High School 4x400 relay team members Zuzanna Trzasko (left), Sarah Conver, Samya Jenkins and Sophie Trzaskus. ,
