A Grade 10 student at Gimli High School proved she’s on top of her game after earning two gold medals at the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s track and field competition held the University of Manitoba in early June.
Jencie Henry excelled in the junior varsity girls’ discus throw, throwing 32.52 metres (106.6 feet) and in shot put, with a throw of 10.84 metres (35.5 feet).
“I was so excited. In discus it was a huge personal best for me at over 30 metres. With shot put it wasn’t my best, but it was my season best this year so I was happy about that,” said Jencie.
Her gym teacher in middle school, Justin Charrier, encouraged her to try throwing events, which at first didn’t appeal to her. But once she got into the swing of things, so to speak, she started to like it.
“At first, I absolutely hated it because I was so bad at it,” said Jencie. “But then I got good and I liked it.
It takes upper body strength to compete in throwing events, and being tall definitely works to an athlete’s advantage in disc throwing.
“Upper body strength is mainly for shot put. But for discus it helps being tall. Taller athletes have longer arms, so we get a better pull on the disc,” she said.
Jencie said she practises the two sports at school for an hour, three times at week.
Last Friday, she competed in Selkirk in the Age Class Provincial Championships under 18 (U18). In discus, she threw a personal best of 36.44 metres (119.5 feet).
And she’s already qualified for upcoming meets. She’ll compete with Team Manitoba at the Western Canada Team Challenge in Winnipeg from July 19 to 21. And she has met the entry standards for the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Calgary from Aug 7 to 13, and hopes to make the team.
Although she’s only in Grade 10, Jencie said she has got her sights set on a professional sports career.
“I’ve always been into sports. I started with hockey and then I went to volleyball and track, but I’ve always wanted to do something with sports for my career,” she said. “[To have a professional career], I think I would have to go to university then have to be scouted.”
Jencie’s mom, Kristi, said she’s proud of her daughter’s medal wins and her dedication to upping her game.
“She has been working hard training with her coach Justin Charrier, who was her middle school gym teacher,” said Kristi. “Jencie has learned so much from Justin. He has tons of experience coaching; he was the throws coach for previous Manitoba teams at the Western Canada Summer Games, Canada Summer Games and the North American Indigenous Games, to name a few.”
She said her daughter wants to make the team for next year’s national summer games.
“Jencie’s big goal is to make the Manitoba team heading to the Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, N.L., next summer,” said Kristi. “And she is still young so if she doesn’t make it, she can try for the next games.”
For more information about upcoming competitions, visits athleticsmanitoba.com
