Athlete of the Week: Bellevue West's Asher Jenkins

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Thunderbird senior Asher Jenkins closed out his high school track career with his three biggest wins. Jenkins earned gold in the Class A Boys 400 meter (48.32 seconds), 200 meter (21.52 seconds) and 100 meter (10.58 seconds).

“He and I went the whole season and we never once mentioned that you could win all three. We never talked about it, but I know that we were both thinking about it the whole time,” said Bellevue West track head coach Epley Hamilton.

“I really wanted this all this time,” said Jenkins. “I even on the podium tried doing something a little different. I tried holding a flag up because I wanted it to be special and remember it.”

On top of his three gold medals, Jenkins earned a fourth having posted the fastest time in the 200 meter dash across all classes at the state track meet this year.

“I was super excited. Another medal! Now I’ll be on the little book they make at State too,” said Jenkins.

The senior attributes his breakout season to new training techniques and new events. This year was the first season Jenkins competed in the 100 meter.

“We switched it up a little bit,” said Jenkins. “Went a little bit harder and took ice baths. Really watched my body all year and it was good. It was smart.”

“We switched some things up and did a lot of speed work and gave him a shot to run the 100m. And it was the right call,” said Hamilton.

His successful showing at the State track meet is a springboard for Jenkins’ next chapter at the Air Force Academy.

“[I] definitely left a good legacy for my high school career and good for my younger teammates for everyone to look up to,” said Jenkins. “And also something to give me a boost into college.”

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