Jenerette named to All State Team at 2009 South Carolina State Cross Country Championships
Sun News "Toast of the Coast" Cross Country 2008 & Track and Field 2009 Teams

BENJAMIN JENERETTE South Carolina Track & Field

Born in Myrtle Beach, Benjamin Jenerette started running when she was 12-years old. Her mother Katherine, an Army Officer and a Gulf War Veteran, first competed on the V Corps Track team along with her father Van in the All Army European Track & Field Championship in Germany in 1990. Katherine later ran for USC/Coastal Carolina University recieving honors as an NCAA ‘Big South’ All Conference Runner in 1994. With her Jr. Olympic wins this summer, Benjamin seems to be following in her mothers footsteps. She is ranked 1st in five Outdoor Track events in South Carolina for her class and is 12th in the Nation USATF Youth. Benjamin is listed in the MileSplit 2009 United States Outdoor Track & Field 1500m Rankings as third for her class in the Nation. Her Cross Country Region 7AAA 1st place 5000 meter time is 19:38...

South Carolina State Youth USATF 1500 meters record ~ 4:57.13 South Carolina Region 7-AAA 5000 meters First Place ~ 19:38

Benjamin Jenerette, running for the Myrtle Beach Track & Field Club, brought home three Gold Medals in the State wide championship meet. In the Youth Girls Division Benjamin swept the 800 meters with a 2:34, the 1500 meters with a 5:12 and the 3000 meters with an 11:40 finish. Benjamin was named 'Horry County High School Track and Field Championship Most Outstanding Female Athlete' in 2009' in the Spring Track season for the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters and led the NMB HS Chiefs' second-place 3,200-meter relay team.

“I had some great individual coaching with the Myrtle Beach Track Club this summer,” said Benjamin. “I have to thank Coaches Mike Floyd, Bratton Fennell, Vince Peebles and Zola Budd Pieterse who have encouraged and motivated me this season to reach beyond what I had ever done on the track. I owe a special thanks to Coach Alan Connie who coached my mom when she ran for Coastal Carolina University and he has been a inspiration and mentor to me since I started running. Of course I need to thank John Pedersen who cheered me on and who along with Mayor John Rhodes pulled the Junior Olympic Meet into our area of the Grand Strand.”

The next stop for Jenerette is the USATF Region III Junior Olympic Championships in Landover, Maryland and if she qualifies there Benjamin will advance to the National Junior Olympic Championships at Greensboro, NC the end of July. Benjamin’s mother, Katherine, will be competing in the USATF SC Open/Masters Track & Field Championships, at Doug Shaw Stadium, in Myrtle Beach later this month which is being hosted by Myrtle Beach Track & Field Club. Benjamin is now among the National Elite Runners Class for the 1500 meter run.
Benjamin's brother Christian and sister Drake also run for the Myrtle Beach Track & Field Club. Benjamin and Christian are running for the North Myrtle Beach High School Cross Country team in fall 2009. Benjamin is listed in the MileSplit 2009 United States Outdoor Track & Field 1500m Rankings as third for her class in the Nation. Jenerette placed first in the 1500 USATF Region III Junior Olympic Championships in Landover, Maryland and in August placed 12th in the National Championships.

UPDATE: Columbia, SC - Saturday, November 7, 2009 - Benjamin Jenerette lead the North Myrtle Beach High School girls cross country team and has been named to the South Carolina All State Team. Benjamin was also recognized as one of the National Elites National Silver Standard Runners after her 12th place finish with a time of 19:43.86 in the 5000 meter 2009 State Cross Country Championship meet at Sand Hills Research Center, Columbia. Jenerette is the only local area runner to have recieved this honor in the state meet that included over 1,300 runners from 125 schools. ALSO SEE: Myrtle Beach Sun News Article October 13, 2009 or READ MORE...(continued)