Long-Jumper Jenkins Grounded by Coach

PORT HUENEME — Coach Bill Hayes of Hueneme High has banned Ronney Jenkins, the Ventura County record-holder in the long jump, from competing in the Southern Section Division II track and field championships Saturday, ending Jenkins’ high school career.

Hayes acted after Jenkins, one of the state’s top long jumpers, seemed to false start intentionally in the 100 meters and failed to show for the heats of the 200 in the Division II preliminaries last weekend.

It was the second year in a row that Jenkins had false started in the 100.

“I just felt like it was a decision we had to make,” Hayes said.

“Kids are going to be kids and they’re going to make mistakes, but you can’t let them make the same mistake twice and get away with it.”

Jenkins, who is headed for Brigham Young on a football scholarship, was in the midst of a superb senior season.

He won the 100, 200 and long jump in the Ventura County championships last month and had posted personal bests of 10.66 seconds in the 100, 21.84 in the 200 and 24 feet 9 inches in the long jump.

The long jump mark broke the previous Ventura County record of 24-3 1/2 set by Lawrence Nelson of Simi Valley in 1985.