What a magnificent spring and summer track season it has been for Kaila Jackson, Olivia Jenkins, Leah Burr, Madison Sheard and Jaleah Graham, members of the Renaissance High School girls track team.

Some of their achievements include:  

• Winning the 4 x 100-meter relay at the state of Michigan meet in June in record setting fashion with blistering time of just under 46 seconds!
• Capturing first place in the 4x 100-meter relay at the amateur national championship in Eugene, OR, site of the Olympic trials, also in record setting time.
• Providing support for each other’s individual accomplishments, such as Kaila’s recent national record in the 200-meter race during another national amateur meet, this time in Las Vegas, NV.
• Succeeding academically, with four of the five girls making the honor roll for their good grades.
• Being role models for younger student athletes. Case in point, at the Las Vegas meet, an 11-year-old runner from Florida sought out and embraced Leah, thanking her for influencing her running.
• Preparing to compete for the upcoming AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Junior Olympics in Houston, TX which gets underway the weekend of August 1, 2021.  

“I am watching these young ladies do things that are simply amazing,” said Darnell Hall, co-head coach of the girls track team at Renaissance, himself a gold medal winning Olympian in the relay back in 1992.  “I am proud of their growth,” Hall reflected, noting that he has known and worked with several of his runners since they were little kids.  

As for the girls themselves, they are not only teammates on the track, but they are also friends off it. They enjoy hanging out and supporting each other, no matter the circumstances. “They are like added-on sisters,” said Olivia Jenkins while glancing at Leah, Madison, Kaila and Jaleah.  

Some of the girls are already being recruited for their academic and athletic talents by several major colleges including: University of Houston, Louisiana State University, University of Michigan, and University of Georgia to name a few. While shepherding the recruiting process for his runners, Hall gently reminds recruiters of the girls strong academic standing tied to the fact they attend Renaissance, the number one ranked public high school in the City of Detroit in a recent national survey.  

Preparing for your child’s rise with DPSCD includes making a commitment to the development of the whole child, a District priority. So, whether it is in athletics like the Renaissance girls track team, or in the arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), veterinary science or other cutting edge programming, DPSCD has a school and a program to meet your child’s needs!

Ready to learn more? Please visit www.detroitk12.org/enroll. We are saving a seat for you when the 21-22 school year kicks off on September 7, 2021!