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The years of diligence and tireless effort were beginning to pay off and, it seemed, everything was aligning for Evan Jensen to enjoy a breakout campaign.
After an indoor track and field season in which he was part of a relay team that qualified for nationals, the Red Hook native began the following winter with impressive performances in two meets, including setting a school record in the 300 meters.
But a sharp, radiating back pain soon halted him in his tracks.
The SUNY Cortland standout was diagnosed in December 2023 with a herniated disc, nixing his junior year and even threatening the remainder of his athletic career.
“It hurt just to walk,” Jensen said. “Surgery was discussed and there was some doubt I’d ever compete again.”
He remembers vividly the pain, both physical and emotional, and an arduous recovery process.
Running strong: Months after a cancer battle, Red Hook's Liam Boyd is 'thankful' for life
History: Marlboro ekes out win, capturing Section 9's first bowling state title
It’s why that NCAA gold medal he now owns holds such value, indicative of far more than his speed.
“It’s a great, awesome feeling,” Jensen said. “To appreciate all the work we put into this as a team, and everything I went through to make it possible, it’s so fulfilling.”
The senior was lead leg of a relay team that won the 4x400 title at the NCAA Division III Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships last Saturday at Nazareth University in Rochester. Alongside them was teammate Amarian Hughes, a former Marlboro High School star, who won the triple jump.
The quartet of Jensen, Zion Cheatham, Harrison Gavalas and Josh Jeffes clocked a 3:12.59 in the final, setting a program record and delivering to Cortland its first national championship in the relays. The Red Dragons narrowly edged Bethel University and Wisconsin-La Crosse, both of which ran 3:12.89.
“We were in the second heat and Wisconsin-La Crosse dropped a really fast time in the first heat,” Jensen said. “We looked at each other and knew we had to do something great. We said, ‘Realistically, if we can get second or third, we’d have to be fine with that.’ Then our heat came up and we did our thing.”
Jensen got them off to a solid start with his 48.8-second split, then handed the baton to Cheatham, a sophomore whose 48.1 raised eyebrows… and hopes.
“Once I saw his move on the second turn and noticed he had an amazing split, I got really excited,” Jensen said. “We thought we had a chance to win it.”
Part of what made their triumph so rewarding, he said, is their camaraderie. They are close friends who spend a great deal of time together outside of practice, and the shared competitive drive helps them motivate each other.
Jeffes is a graduate student who excelled at SUNY Delhi, earning All-American honors three times in the 400 meters. When he transferred to Cortland and joined their relay, Jensen said, their sights were set higher.
“This year, we set program records, went undefeated in the 4x400 and got All-American,” he said. “Now, we get a national championship on top of that. It’s incredible.”
It took more than six months for Jensen to recuperate from the herniated disc and it wasn’t until last summer that he was pain-free. That process required extensive rehabilitation work, physical therapy and frequent trips to Syracuse to see a personal trainer.
Once he was well enough for strenuous activities, Jensen dedicated himself last fall to the weight room and track, preparing for what he modestly hoped would be a decent comeback season.
“It’s difficult,” said Jensen, who ended his high school career with a Section 9 title in 2021. “I wasn’t as fast, and my lung capacity was down after going that long without running. I was gradually building back up, but I didn’t think I’d get to where I was before. I was just hoping to get through the season healthy.”
He accomplished a little more than that, of course, contributing to program history.
Hughes, a graduate student, broke his own Cortland record with 50 feet, 4½ inches on his final jump at nationals. He, too, won Section 9 championships in the long and triple jumps as a 12th-grader.
“I knew of him in high school, then we connected during my freshman year here,” Jensen said of Hughes. “A lot of us look up to him. Seeing him work toward this for years, then accomplish it, was amazing. I’m really proud of him.”
All of this adds to what Jensen called “a storybook ending.” But, there is an epilogue. With the spring outdoor season upcoming, there still are lofty goals to chase.
Jensen will compete in the 200 and 400 meters in addition to the 4x400. He hopes to set personal records in the individual events and have another “special” run with the relay. Their time at nationals was two seconds off the Division III record — on a flat track instead of a banked one ― and the crew believes the outdoor mark of 3:07.24 is within reach.
“The feeling of success after a setback, and seeing all the time and work pay off, it’s great,” said Jensen, who wants to become a New York State Park Police officer and an educator. “I hope to inspire others.”
Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Track & field: Jensen helps SUNY Cortland win first NCAA relay title
Continue reading...
After an indoor track and field season in which he was part of a relay team that qualified for nationals, the Red Hook native began the following winter with impressive performances in two meets, including setting a school record in the 300 meters.
But a sharp, radiating back pain soon halted him in his tracks.
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The SUNY Cortland standout was diagnosed in December 2023 with a herniated disc, nixing his junior year and even threatening the remainder of his athletic career.
“It hurt just to walk,” Jensen said. “Surgery was discussed and there was some doubt I’d ever compete again.”
He remembers vividly the pain, both physical and emotional, and an arduous recovery process.
Running strong: Months after a cancer battle, Red Hook's Liam Boyd is 'thankful' for life
History: Marlboro ekes out win, capturing Section 9's first bowling state title
It’s why that NCAA gold medal he now owns holds such value, indicative of far more than his speed.
“It’s a great, awesome feeling,” Jensen said. “To appreciate all the work we put into this as a team, and everything I went through to make it possible, it’s so fulfilling.”
You must be registered for see images attach
The senior was lead leg of a relay team that won the 4x400 title at the NCAA Division III Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships last Saturday at Nazareth University in Rochester. Alongside them was teammate Amarian Hughes, a former Marlboro High School star, who won the triple jump.
The quartet of Jensen, Zion Cheatham, Harrison Gavalas and Josh Jeffes clocked a 3:12.59 in the final, setting a program record and delivering to Cortland its first national championship in the relays. The Red Dragons narrowly edged Bethel University and Wisconsin-La Crosse, both of which ran 3:12.89.
“We were in the second heat and Wisconsin-La Crosse dropped a really fast time in the first heat,” Jensen said. “We looked at each other and knew we had to do something great. We said, ‘Realistically, if we can get second or third, we’d have to be fine with that.’ Then our heat came up and we did our thing.”
Jensen got them off to a solid start with his 48.8-second split, then handed the baton to Cheatham, a sophomore whose 48.1 raised eyebrows… and hopes.
“Once I saw his move on the second turn and noticed he had an amazing split, I got really excited,” Jensen said. “We thought we had a chance to win it.”
Part of what made their triumph so rewarding, he said, is their camaraderie. They are close friends who spend a great deal of time together outside of practice, and the shared competitive drive helps them motivate each other.
You must be registered for see images
Jeffes is a graduate student who excelled at SUNY Delhi, earning All-American honors three times in the 400 meters. When he transferred to Cortland and joined their relay, Jensen said, their sights were set higher.
“This year, we set program records, went undefeated in the 4x400 and got All-American,” he said. “Now, we get a national championship on top of that. It’s incredible.”
It took more than six months for Jensen to recuperate from the herniated disc and it wasn’t until last summer that he was pain-free. That process required extensive rehabilitation work, physical therapy and frequent trips to Syracuse to see a personal trainer.
Once he was well enough for strenuous activities, Jensen dedicated himself last fall to the weight room and track, preparing for what he modestly hoped would be a decent comeback season.
“It’s difficult,” said Jensen, who ended his high school career with a Section 9 title in 2021. “I wasn’t as fast, and my lung capacity was down after going that long without running. I was gradually building back up, but I didn’t think I’d get to where I was before. I was just hoping to get through the season healthy.”
He accomplished a little more than that, of course, contributing to program history.
You must be registered for see images
Hughes, a graduate student, broke his own Cortland record with 50 feet, 4½ inches on his final jump at nationals. He, too, won Section 9 championships in the long and triple jumps as a 12th-grader.
“I knew of him in high school, then we connected during my freshman year here,” Jensen said of Hughes. “A lot of us look up to him. Seeing him work toward this for years, then accomplish it, was amazing. I’m really proud of him.”
All of this adds to what Jensen called “a storybook ending.” But, there is an epilogue. With the spring outdoor season upcoming, there still are lofty goals to chase.
Jensen will compete in the 200 and 400 meters in addition to the 4x400. He hopes to set personal records in the individual events and have another “special” run with the relay. Their time at nationals was two seconds off the Division III record — on a flat track instead of a banked one ― and the crew believes the outdoor mark of 3:07.24 is within reach.
“The feeling of success after a setback, and seeing all the time and work pay off, it’s great,” said Jensen, who wants to become a New York State Park Police officer and an educator. “I hope to inspire others.”
Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Track & field: Jensen helps SUNY Cortland win first NCAA relay title
Continue reading...
