Allan Hancock College sophomore Kenna Wolter is a rising star in women’s track and field. At a recent meet in Ventura, Wolter broke the school record in the long jump by more than seven inches with an 18-foot, 7-inch leap, winning first place in the event.
Wolter also won the 100-meter and triple jump events and placed fifth in the 200-meter.
Last year, Wolter suffered a hamstring injury two days before a critical meet in which she placed among the top qualifiers. The injury kept her out of the Southern California finals, but now she’s healthy and has her sights set on the state long jump championship.
“As long as I don’t get injured, I’m super excited,” Wolter said. “Compared to last year, I’m jumping farther, and I’m feeling stronger.”
Hancock track and field coach Louie Quintana praised Wolter for her work ethic and mental toughness in dealing with a hectic schedule that alternates between long- and triple-jump practice and sprinting training.
“She’s a heck of an athlete,” Quintana said. “When we count on her for points, she’s there. If we could have another 30 kids like her, it’d be great.”
To top it all off, Wolter is only inches from breaking Hancock’s triple jump record; that’s an event in which she placed second in the conference last season. She also excelled at the triple jump as a sophomore and junior at Righetti High School where she began as a long-distance runner.
She abandoned distance running to focus solely on sprinting and jumping, a move that paid off, as she’s currently ranked second for California Junior Colleges in long jump and third in triple jump. Wolter said she hopes to transfer to San Francisco State by next spring.
The Hancock team heads next to Bakersfield for a track meet on March 21 in preparation for the state championships in May.
This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2009.