Jenkins siblings bolster strong Athens Christian lineup

By Jeff Cochran

jeff.cochran@onlineathens.com

The dynasty started with Destiny.

When Robert Jenkins saw his then 6-year old daughter, Destiny, beating 12-year old boys in races around the block in the family's North Carolina neighborhood, he knew the talent for running that seemed so strong in his family had not bypassed his children.

"Running was bequeathed to me," said Robert Jenkins, who ran while in college at North Carolina A&T. "Our whole family runs. We are just runners. ... (His children's talent) was basically just discovered. From that point, we got all of them into track and cross country."

And from that point on, his children have been able to carry on the family's running reputation.

His three oldest children - Josh, Destiny and Josiah - have all won national championships in the 3,000-meter run while competing in USA Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) events.

"We just developed a passion for it," Destiny Jenkins said. "Our dad would wake us up early in the morning and we would run five miles. Then we would do stadium steps."

"At first we hated it," Josh Jenkins admitted.

Unfortunately for other Class A cross country teams, the Jenkins runners are moving from a home-school environment to Georgia High School Association competition. Bolstering an already strong program, they are running in the purple and gold of Athens Christian this season.

The Jenkins clan also includes three more runners in middle school, all of whom are at the top of their age groups in cross country.

"I guess I would say it was like six Christmases in July," Athens Christian coach Tim Cummings said of their arrival. "You have six national runners move into the area, I'm not sure what the words are to describe that."

Robert Jenkins had always intended for his children to attend a private, Christian-based high school when they reached the right age. His only concern was finding the right one.

He met Cummings at a meet at Georgia Tech in May and saw in Athens Christian a potential match for his kids. After his children ran with the Athens Christian team during the summer, the whole family was convinced.

"We wanted a place where our kids could exhibit their talents," Robert Jenkins said. "We wanted them to go to a Christian environment and a close-knit family environment."

"We also knew that Athens Christian had a rich tradition of running."

The Eagles are no strangers to a family focused on running. The brother/sister combo of Whitney and Colin Bishoff have dominated Class A cross country for the past five years.

Whitney Bishoff won four consecutive state championships, ending with her senior year in 2007, becoming the school's most decorated athlete. Her brother has followed her lead, winning the 2008 Class A individual state championship by 13 seconds.

Colin Bishoff is back for his senior year and will have Josh and Josiah Jenkins running right beside him.

"I think Josh is good for Colin and Colin is good for Josh," Cummings said. "They push each other, make each other better."

Competition has always bred improvement in the Jenkins family. Josh and Josiah said they are competitive in more than just running.

"He pushes me in practice," Josiah Jenkins said. "We are competitive in everything."

"I have been struggling, so he has been pushing me, too," Josh Jenkins said. "He's already running a 16:50 and ..."

The younger brother was quick to jump in and correct the oldest.

"It's 16:42," Josiah Jenkins said with a big smile. "Get it right."

The Jenkins siblings didn't need much time and practice to get used to their new team. Before practices start, Destiny Jenkins is generally at the center of the group of girls.

Josh and Josiah Jenkins are quieter, but have still been able to fit in fine.

"Josh is quiet," Cummings said, "but who is quieter than Colin Bishoff? So they get along really well. They all have a common faith and that is the thing that binds people together."

The siblings have needed even less time to turn heads at local meets.

Destiny Jenkins set a course and meet record by winning the Champions Race at the Northeast Georgia Championship almost two weeks ago. She also placed first at the Carrollton Invitational last Saturday.

Josh and Josiah Jenkins finished first and second respectively at the Carrollton Invitational. Josiah beat his older brother at the Northeast Georgia Championships, finishing fourth while his brother finished fifth.

All three will be running this weekend with the team at the UGA Cross Country Invitational.

"I want to get the team ring," Josiah Jenkins said.

One of Robert Jenkins' biggest reasons for moving his family from Covington to be a part of the Athens Christian running tradition is exposure to colleges. Whitney Bishoff is now running at Anderson (S.C) University and Robert Jenkins is hoping the same for his children.

But most of the Jenkins group have aspirations beyond college.

"Some of the kids want to be professional runners," Robert Jenkins said. "So perhaps there are some Olympians in the mix."