Newton Athlete of the Week: Newton South Runner Lucy Jenks

NEWTON, MA - One week, Newton South junior Lucy Jenks ran for a title. The next week she ran for a record.

And the whole experience of running for the Lions this winter made her decide that distance running is what she wants to do in her high school and college career.

Jenks came to South as a speedy soccer standout who ran indoor track between fall and spring soccer seasons. She won the All-State mile as a sophomore and was on the state champion 4 x 800 relay. Yet her heart remained on the pitch, as she trained most of the rest of the year for the nationally ranked Lions.

“I was definitely planning on trying to play awhile and stick with (soccer),” she said. “But then I stopped trying to get recruited in the summer and focused on running. I love soccer, but as I’ve gotten into more running, I’ve liked that more and more.”

Jenks said she was leaning toward running all three seasons during her senior year, and those plans solidified over the past few weeks as she won her second straight All-State mile in 4:52.6 before breaking the New England meet record with a first-place run of 4:49.57.

“Going into All-States, I thought it could go either way,” Jenks said of her showdown with two-time Gatorade Massachusetts Cross Country Runner of the Year Grace Connolly, whom she edged by 0.8 seconds. “Then I kind of knew she wasn't running at New Englands, so I went for the time.”

As she raced ahead of the pack at New Englands, Jenks said, she looked to South coach Steve McChesney after each lap for the thumbs-up, showing she was on pace, or for a sign to pick it up.

“I am definitely used to sitting back and kicking,” she said. “I prefer that than to go out by myself. It’s definitely harder to do that than let someone else set the pace. I didn’t have the same kick (at New Englands), but I ran a more consistent race all the way through.”

Her time at New England broke the meet record by three seconds and was nearly seven seconds ahead of second-place Margaret Donahue of Wellesley.

Jenks will conclude her indoor season at the New Balance Indoor Nationals this weekend in New York City.