Francella Jenkins
Mannford High School
She had done everything right—trained hard, qualified for state, and showed up ready to compete. But just days before the biggest meet of her cross country season, Francella Jenkins suffered a hip injury at regionals. Her state debut would have to wait.
“It was tough,” Jenkins said. “I had worked so hard to get there.”
Now fully recovered, the Manford High School sophomore is channeling that setback into fuel for her first love: track and field. Jenkins has been running track since seventh grade and continues to grow as one of the team’s most dependable relay and distance runners.
“I’ve stuck with track because I love it,” she said.
This past season, she ran multiple relay events and helped lead her team to several wins. Her consistency and determination are what make her stand out—whether she’s finishing a handoff or running solo laps under the sun.
Jenkins took on cross country last year as a new challenge and quickly found success, placing second at conference and regularly finishing in the top 10. That run toward state came to a sudden stop with her injury, but she’s already training daily to come back stronger.
“I want to qualify again—and actually run in it this time,” she said.
Between workouts, classes and time with friends, Jenkins stays focused on her goals. Inspired by her mom and aunt, she wants to follow in their footsteps and create her own path through hard work.
“They’ve worked so hard to get where they are,” she said. “That motivates me.”
With state meets and college competition in her sights, Jenkins is already running toward something greater.
“I want to keep pushing and see how far I can go,” she said.
Whether on the track or facing setbacks, Jenkins moves forward with quiet confidence—proof that true progress isn’t just about medals, but about resilience, drive and heart.
