Jenna Givens signs letter of intent with SLU Track

Going on to compete at the collegiate level is a goal for most athletes.

On Wednesday, Notre Dame’s Jenna Givens accomplished that goal by signing her letter of intent with the Saint Louis University track and field program at Notre Dame Regional High School.

Givens said she is excited about the opportunity to compete while also being close to home.

“It’s very relieving to know that I finally picked a college,” Givens said. “I’m just super blessed to be going to SLU. A former teammate of mine Evan Bruenderman is up there already so I have a teammate that I know which is really awesome. I just love SLU’s campus and the environment. I’m really excited.”

Throughout the process, Givens knew she didn’t want to stray too far from home and felt like SLU gave her the perfect balance.

“I didn’t want to go crazy far away,” Givens said. “The more (Evan) talked to me the more I was interested. I looked at a few other schools up there and I liked them all but I just kept coming back to SLU."

After signing on Wednesday, Givens took time to reflect on her journey.

“If you would have told me in eighth grade I was going to be going to SLU for track I would have been like, ‘You’re crazy,’” Givens said. “Doing track freshman year I immediately fell in love with the triple jump, the team and everyone. Now, being a senior and going to college for track next year is just crazy.”

As the Bulldogs enter the final stretch run, Givens is glad to have settled on her decision and not have it loom over her for the remainder of her senior year.

“I decided this a couple of weeks into the season,” Givens said. “Those first couple weeks I was still worried about college and still worried about trying to do my best in track. Now I can just focus on track and it’s very relieving.”

With a portion of her senior year remaining, Givens hopes to build off her already impressive resume that features multiple All-State medals.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Givens said. “Of course, I want to do better than I have in the past so I’m just hoping to do my best.”

Givens and the Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, April 29 when they host the SEMO Conference meet at Notre Dame Regional High School.