Former Central star Jenkins hits ground throwing at SEMO

It hasn't taken Heather Jenkins long to make her mark on the college level.

The freshman from Central High School has already established herself as one of the premier weight throwers in Southeast Missouri State University history, with several of the track and field program's all-time top distances in the discus and shot put.

"It's surprised me how well I'm doing," Jenkins said. "I thought I would do OK, but not this good."

Southeast coach Joey Haines, however, has not been surprised.

"We knew Heather was going to be good," he said. "She was an outstanding high school discus thrower."

Jenkins will look for more success today when the 21st annual All Sport Class heats up at the Abe Stuber Complex as events begin at 11 a.m. She's likely to receive a rugged challenge from Western Illinois' Amber Crumbo, who has the best discus and shot put distances entered in the meet.

"That should be outstanding competition," Haines said.

There have been only two meets so far during the outdoor season -- when the discus is contested exclusively -- but Jenkins has already thrown 156 feet 9 inches and 150-4 to rank second and fourth on Southeast's all-time list. The school record is held by Pat Washington, who heaved the discus 160-10 in 1983.

Jenkins, who finished third in the shot put during this year's Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships, heaved the shot 46-5 during a recent outdoor meet to rank fourth in Southeast history.

Despite all of her early success, Jenkins said it has been a big adjustment from high school to college athletics.

"The bigger meets have been the biggest difference," she said. "You just have to compete a lot harder and work a lot harder on this level."

Southeast pulled off something of a recruiting coup by landing Jenkins, who placed second in both the discus and shot put during last year's Class 4A state meet after finishing second in the discus and fifth in the shot put as a junior. She was ranked in the top 20 nationally in the discus by Track & Field News.

Jenkins narrowed her college choices to Southeast and Mississippi before deciding to stay home. It probably didn't hurt that her father John and brother Gabe both played football for Southeast.

"All my family is here and I wanted to stay here," she said, then added with a grin, "They didn't put any pressure on me, but they were pretty happy."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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