Kenwood Track & Field Stars Seek State Titles

Kenwood High School senior never competed in outdoor track and field until this season. 

Ray spent 10 years competing for Baltimore County gymnastics before deciding this year she needed a change. That decision drastically altered the course of her life.

Ray quickly developed into one of the best high jumpers in Maryland and is among the favorites to capture the Class 4A title in the event when the state track meet takes place Friday and Saturday at Morgan State University.

Ray enters the meet having won the high jump in the county and regional meets by clearing 5 feet and a school-record of 5-4, respectively.

“I had just gotten burned out with gymnastics and needed a change,” said Ray, who will also join teammates Brianna Best, Diamond Hunter and Shaneara Terry in the 4x100 relay at states.

“I got to learn how to do the events during the indoor season, but outdoors has a completely different feeling," Ray said. "It’s more intense because there are so many more competitors.”

The decision to join the track team also impacted Ray’s post-high school life as she recently signed up with CCBC Essex to compete on its next year.

“I wasn’t even a track athlete a year ago and now I’ve got the chance to compete at the college level,” Ray said. “It’s been quite a ride.”

The state meet will also mark the end of the high school career of Kenwood senior Travis Jenkins. Jenkins will compete in the long jump, high jump and triple jump this weekend.

This comes after he won the county and region titles in the long jump at 22-09 and 22-03, respectively. Jenkins, who also won the county high jump title (6-0), set the Baltimore County championship meet record in the long jump en route to being named the county’s field athlete of the year.

Jenkins is arguably one of the greatest athletes in school history, as he rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season for the football team and was the starting point guard on the

“I can’t think of a better way to end my high school career than to win a state title in at least one of the events,” said Jenkins, who plans to walk on for track, basketball and/or football at Delaware State next year. “It’s going to be an emotional weekend, that is for sure.”

Kenwood track and field coach Mark Planamente likes his team’s chances of placing in several events this weekend. Other state qualifiers for the Bluebirds include Terry (pole vault and 100-meter dash) and Best (long jump).

Planamente said it will be difficult to replace athletes like Ray and Jenkins next season.

“Rayven and Travis are just pure athletes,” Planamente said. “They pick up the skills so easily, which is why they have been successful in multiple sports. They definitely have the ability to bring home a state title.”