Between the weather and the changes in quality of performances, not a whole lot stays consistent in the world of track and field.
Ja’la Henderson, however, is one of the rare consistencies that the University of Wyoming has the pleasure of calling a competitor. Henderson’s consistency is what she and her coach contribute to the major success she saw just recently in Greeley, Colorado, as she jumped 43 1/2 to break UW’s triple jump record set in 1999 by Tomeca Brown.
“She has been pretty consistent this entire season, and consistency trumps all with her,” Jumps Coach Quincy Howe said. “So I think she has already done what she needs to do for regular season.”
Henderson said “I kind of expected to already break the triple jump record, because I’ve been kind of consistent with my mark. It’s kind of exciting though, to know that I did it (in the) first meet.”
Though her leap of 43 1/2 is one that may remain in the record books for years to come Henderson is not finished progressing.
“I’m definitely not content with my mark,” Henderson said. “I’m trying to go farther and break my own record again, and continue to see progress. “I’m focusing on conference. In both jumps, I’m sitting at a good place. My goal is to regain my crown in long jump, finally, and continue to win in triple.”
Admittedly, Howe was not surprised with Henderson’s mark, which beat out second place by nearly 4 feet, and the school’s previous record by nearly 2 feet. This is simply due to the fact that the bulk of Henderson’s work has yet to be done, as the postseason is still several weeks away.
“My focus has been, for her, my focus is about 8 weeks from now,” Howe said. “So, I actually didn’t give it much thought. It is a very, very huge accomplishment, breaking a 20-year record. Even though it was a big landmark for her and the program, I didn’t give it much thought. Because of her consistency this year, we knew that mark was going to fall. It wasn’t a surprise.”
Another reason her record-stealing jump may not have come as a shock to many, is because Henderson has always been a fierce competitor, and winning is in her nature. Each time she is asked what she expected in a meet, “winning” slips out once or twice.
“That’s the one thing we’ve never had to address since day one when she came in, she has always been a supreme competitor,” Howe said. “Her skill has risen to her competitiveness, but her competitiveness has been in her from day one.”
Though she is an incredible competitor and athlete, even she has days in which she would rather not perform, possibly spending her day elsewhere, perhaps in warmer weather than what this area frequently has to offer. However, her down days don’t stop her from going out and putting up huge numbers.
“I kind of didn’t want to go to the meet because it was windy, and there was so much going on, and I was cold,” Henderson said. “The weather plays a huge role, so I kind of wasn’t into it, but I was really relaxed, so I think that helped.”
Neither Howe nor Henderson see her progress and her success stopping any time soon, and they have their sights set on May, where Henderson is hopeful to make some noise at the Mountain West Conference Championship track meet.
