49er triples her success

Long Beach State track and field athlete Kenya Jimerson is one busy lady.

She can be seen practicing her triple jump at Jack Rose Track, working in the Disabled Student Services, working at her internship or going to class.

"I love the technique of the triple jump," Jimerson said. "I like competing against myself and setting a goal for myself."

As a freshman, Jimerson said she had hoped to play basketball, however, because of a death in her family, she did not play and took time off.

Jimerson said she became friends with LBSU sprint coach Donna Waller, who encouraged her to try out for track in her sophomore year.

At first, she said she did not have a specific position, but advanced quickly to specialize in triple jump.

"I am a fast learner and I had good coaching," Jimerson said.

Jimerson said her goal for the semester is to jump 40 feet, break the school record of 40-2 and receive a Big West Conference plaque. Her current lifetime best is 39-6.

Currently a junior communications major, Jimerson will graduate next spring and said she hopes to have a career in broadcasting.

She said she has been an intern for Paramount Pictures and worked on "The Leeza Gibbons Show." She now interns at Charter Communications, the Long Beach cable company, where she performs a variety of tasks including camera operations, video editing and video graphics.

"I am very organized and I don't procrastinate," Jimerson said. "This is my most challenging semester."

The semester includes taking 19 units of classes, and six hours a week at her internship. This does not give her enough time to work at the Disabled Student Services, which she has been doing since 1997.

Kenya credits her old high school basketball coach for encouraging her academically and athletically.

"He taught me how to work hard and develop good leadership and team skills," Jimerson said.

Part of her triple jump training includes bounding, or jumping, which increases strength.

"Bounding is one of the most important things for triple jump," Jimerson said. "It is the major motion in the triple jump."

Jimerson said workout also includes sprinting, running and more bounding in the pool, which provides resistance for her training.

She said she does not have a strict training diet but tries to eat a lot of vegetables and drink a lot of water.

"When I first joined the team, I never thought I would do this well," Jimerson said. "This has opened a lot of doors for me because I felt like my dreams were shattered because I could not play basketball."

"It has been a blessing to receive a scholarship in track," Jimerson said.

Kenya is also a good student as well as a good triple jumper.

She has received an academic scholarship to attend LBSU for her good grades.

"Kenya is a real pleasure to work with," said track and field Head Coach Andy Sythe. "She exemplifies what a students athlete is. She is a fantastic student, a conscientious person and makes opportunities for herself."

Kenya now ranks fifth in Big West with her mark of 39-2, according to flashresults.com.

"She exceeded my expectations by improving so quickly. I quickly expanded my expectations of her and with a few technical changes, she could jump 42 feet," Sythe said. "She is a total winner."