By Christopher Judd, News Correspondent
Sophomore runner Eric Jenkins became the first ever Northeastern University athlete to win the Colonial Athletic Assoscation (CAA) cross country championship. He ran the 8k in 24:46, his personal best, and won the 58-man race by 19 seconds. Jenkins’ performance has earned him The Huntington News Player of the Week honors.
“I was very excited,” Jenkins said of his performance. “This is something I worked all season for. This was my first win all season.”
Jenkins has been a sensation on the cross country team, placing fifth in the New England Championship, out of a field of 250 people. He has consistently placed in the top 10 runners at meets.
“It was a really good atmosphere,” Jenkins said of the championship. “At New England Championships, there was a bunch of people, high energy. Then we came to conference, it was much smaller, not as much pressure.”
Jenkins grew up in Portsmouth, N.H. and said he loves running, but also enjoys basketball and baseball. Jenkins is an undeclared major, but is interested in sociology.
Renny Waldron, Northeastern’s distance coach, described Jenkins as a “tough kid, who pushes himself and trains intelligently. He always leaves something for the races.”
Jenkins mentioned that the difference for him in the conference championship was hard work, mixed with the extended break between races, which allowed him to rest his legs.
Next up for Jenkins is the regional championship. If he places in the top four individual runners who are on teams that do not qualify for nationals, Jenkins will qualify for nationals individually. He will compete in a field of 350 runners.
“I’m looking forward to the Regional Championship,” Jenkins said. “It’s a 10k, not an 8k, so it’s a big step. I’m excited for it.”
