LaTasha Jenkins (born December 19, 1977) is a former American sprinter. Having won international medals in the 200 m, she won a silver medal at the 2001 World Indoor Championships and a silver medal at the 2001 Outdoor Championships. Other career highlights include 2001 U.S. Indoor 200m champion; 1999 and 2001 US Outdoor runner-up, 200m; 1999 NCAA 200m champion; four-time NCAA All-American; member of world record-holding 4x200m relay team.
After winning the 1999 NCAA 200m title and finishing second to Marion Jones at the U.S. Championships, Jenkins was poised to make her mark on the international scene, but a collapsed lung she suffered on the flight to the 1999 World University Games forced her to with withdraw from that meet as well as the World Championships. She recovered in 2000 and in 2001 had terrific results under new coach Norbert Elliott in Georgia, winning her first U.S. title indoors and winning silver at the 2001 World Indoor Championships. She went on to finish runner-up to Jones outdoors at 200m and was fourth at the World Outdoor Championships. She graduated from Ball State University with a degree in English and a minor in counseling psychology. She scored 25 points at the Mid-American meet in 1998, and her 1999 NCAA crown was the first ever national championship for Ball State women's track & field.
2003: 4th in 200m at USA Outdoors (22.65)4th in 200m at World Outdoors (22.67)3rd in 100m (11.21) and 2nd in 200m (22.31) at Mexico City 3rd in 100m at Home Depot (11.04w)1st in 200m at Murfreesboro (23.30)ranked #9 in the world (#4 U.S.) at 200m, #9 in U.S. at 100m by T&FNbest of 11.04w and 22.31. 2002: 1st in 100m (11.05) and 200m (22.59) at Nashville3rd in 100m at Osaka (11.22 w)1st in 400m at Auburn (52.95)bests of 11.05 and 22.59ranked #9 in U.S. at 100m by T&FN. 2001: Won silver medal in 200m at World Indoors (22.96) won U.S. Indoors 200m (23.07) 2nd in 200m at USA Outdoors (22.88)4th at World Outdoors (22.85) won adidas Oregon Track Classic ranked #4 in world (#3 U.S.) at 200m, #5 in U.S. at 100m by T&FN best of 11.02 and 22.39. 2000: Ran leadoff on 4x200 relay at USA vs. THE WORLD at the Penn Relays that broke WR (1:27.46)...ranked #6 in U.S. at 200m by T&FN... bests of 11.13 and 22.86. 1999: Showed dramatic improvement, winning the NCAA 200 title...at USA Champs was second to Marion Jones in 200...had to withdraw from World University Games and World Championships because of a collapsed lung... bests of 11.08 and 22.29. 1998: Won 200 (23.29), 2nd in 55 (6.86) at MAC Indoor...2nd in 200 heat (23.69) at NCAA Indoor...2nd at Sea-Ray 200 (23.34)...won 100 (11.31w) and 200 (23.21) at MAC...2nd in 200 (22.93 PR) at NCAA...ranked #7 U.S. at 200 by T&FN... bests of 11.62 and 22.93. 1997: 2nd in 200 (23.98) in MAC Indoor...won MAC 200 (23.21w), 3rd in 100 (11.51w)... 9th in 200 semi (23.77), 7th in 100 heat (11.93) at NCAA...6th in 200 (23.33) at USA Champs...5th in 200 quarterfinal (24.20) at World University Games... bests of 11.93 and 23.13. 1996: Won MAC 200 (23.63w), 3rd in 100 (11.70w)... bests of 11.79 and 24.00. 1995: 3rd in Illinois state 200.
Jenkins does in fact hold a world record, as a member of the American 4 x 200 m relay team that ran 1:27.46 on April 29, 2000 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the other team members being LaTasha Colander-Richardson, Nanceen Perry and Marion Jones. Note that 4 x 200 m is not a regular track event and not a part of the program for any major international championship.
Latasha Jenkins was inducted in the Ball State University Sports Hall of Fame in February 2008.
Famous quotes containing the word jenkins:
“I wouldn’t put it past God to arrange a virgin birth if He wanted, but I very much doubt if He would.”
—David Jenkins (b. 1925)