Catching Up with Top Returners: Carissa Jenkins

-Athlete Name: Carissa Jenkins

-School: Austintown-Fitch High School

-Year of Graduation: 2014

-Best time in a 5K race and in which meet:

18:26 at last year's State Meet


-Tell us how your summer training is going?

Summer training has been very relaxed with heavy mileage and having an intense workout every Wesnesday morning at the track.So it has been very fun sweating in the Ohio heat

-What are your goals for the upcoming season?

My main goals are to return to the State Meet and work on going to Footlocker Nationals.

-How long have you been running and how did you get started?

I have been running since 7th grade track season so for about 3 1/2 years. I started running after breaking my wrist and joined the middle school team since it isn't suppose to be a contact sport (except the occasional spiking from other runners)

-Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?

I would like to compete in one of the National Meets this year, and qualifying will take place in either Indiana or Wisconsin.

-What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?

I have two favorite courses, Billy Goat Hill in McDonald and Boardman's course, but only during the Spartan Invitational. Billy Goat Hill is one of my favorite courses for the roller coaster type hills in the woods and the huge hill during the last 150m. Boardman's course is also great because during the Spartan Invitational you have the tough competition that comes from all of Northeast Ohio.

-What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?

Many people would expect me to say that Malone University's High School course would be the toughest but I don't believe that. Copland Oaks (South Range's home course) challanges you. The course starts out flat for the first 800-1200meters but once you are in the woods with no spectators and the constant hills it gets tough. The entire woods are made of short little hills. Once you go down one you already are running up the next hill.

-What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?

During the season I pay extra attention towards the Spartan Invitational for the high level of competition and the hilly terrain. Oh, and you do not want to look like huge fool in front of the 1,000 plus spectators who watch the races of the day.

-What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career? Favorite cross country memory?

My favorite cross country race and memory would be Marlington Invite during my sophomore year (during the past XC season) . During this meet I was coming in with a PR of 19:46, but I knew it was a fast course with tough opponents and hopefully I would at least come close to that time. I ran the race and that day I just felt great. I was beaten across the finish line by two seconds. Rankin,the one who had beaten me across the finish line, congratulated me and said,'I have never been pushed that hard at all during the season' or something along those lines and it just gave me a little boost of energy. Then when I thought the excitement was over I was greeted by my stepdad who showed me a time of 18:58 on his stop watch. I though he stopped the watch early, but it turned out I had broken the 19 minute mark during a Saturday invitational.

-When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?

My favorite thing to do when I'm not running is to play with my German Shepard, Ruger. He is such a big puppy he is the one that always greets me when I come home.

-Favorite quote?

"If you don't win the race, make the person in front of you beat the record"

-What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?

Maroon 5 or Luke Bryan

-What professional athlete would you most like to meet? 

Ryan Shay, but he's dead.  I chose Ryan because during my freshman year I received this little card, almost like a baseball card, about him. He was the only professional runner I knew about until I met Bridget Franek, and I have always wanted to meet him.