Lee’s Karissa Jenkins is making strides

A photo of Robert E. Lee runner Karissa Jenkins posing in front of the scoreboard didn’t portray a look of glee for a runner who finished third place in the triple jump event that launched her indoor track season Dec. 27.

“No, I didn’t smile,” said Jenkins. “I knew I could do better than I did. I was not happy about coming in third.”

Jenkins is blunt about the level of success she wants to achieve in her high school career. Topping competitors is a way to get her to grin.

She wasted no time rising to success last season. As a freshman, Jenkins set Lee’s record in the triple jump in outdoor track.

Her uncle, Roger Jenkins, who helps coach his niece on the side, is another subject that sparks enthusiasm, and gratitude.

“He’s tough because he’s family. Coaches won’t freak out on you as much,” Jenkins said. “He can get away with that kind of stuff, but he works with me and goes to the meets with me. If I lived with my uncle, I would work even harder. That’s not a bad thing.”

Karissa is hoping to continue the Jenkins legacy.

Cousin Angela Jenkins, who graduated in 2006 from Buffalo Gap earned a full-ride to run track at the United States Military Academy. Cousin Rajah Jenkins, who graduated from Lee in 2008 is playing football at the Virginia Military Institute.

“He’s [uncle] tough on me,” Karissa said. “Imagine how it would be to have your coach as your father? That’s why Angela is so good. I hope to get there too.”

So far, Karissa appears to be close behind her cousins.

She finished with a personal best at Friends of the Outdoor Track Invite in Landover, Md., with 36 feet, 3 inches in the triple jump on Dec. 27. She then eclipsed that with a jump of 36 feet, 4.25 inches at Liberty University on Jan. 10.

She also competes in the long jump and the 55-meter dash.

“When I got to the long jump, I was falling behind,” Karissa said. “That’s when I decided to pull out” of the long jump event at the Liberty University competition. “I have to work on my long jump more. I was hurt and I tried to push on.”

Outdoor track starts in March and coach David Tibbs was impressed with Karissa’s potential.

“She is just like her cousins, Rajah and Angela,” Tibbs said. “For a freshman to do as well as she had last season shows her talents. She’s a very hard worker.”

For Karissa, just to finish in the top 10 — or even the top five — isn’t enough. She may not even grin, even if it’s her personal best.

“I won’t be happy finishing in the top five,” she said.

As for taking pictures after a meet: “Nah, I’ll smile if I finish first,” she said.