Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Jenny Cummins - CdM star in

training

Tony Altobelli

Liz Morse might cast a rather large shadow, but Jenny Cummins

refuses to stand in it.

For the Corona del Mar High junior track and field standout, training and

competing against one of the best runners in the country can do nothing

but positive things for her down the road.

“Liz is great to train with,” Cummins said. “Racing with her, workouts,

Liz has been a tremendous help for me and I hope to continue going in the

right direction for next season.”

Cummins, who normally runs the 400- and 800-meters, while running the

lead leg in the 1,600 relay team, already showed the direction she’s

heading in last week’s CIF Southern Section Division III finals.

It was there that Cummins battled a pack of runners in the 800, broke

free and took second place behind Morse with a personal-best time of

2:16.01.

“I was in a group of runners behind Liz,” Cummins said. “I was able to

never drop off that pack and with the competition pushing me from behind,

I was able to break ahead of the pack.”

That 1-2 finish for CdM was a major factor that led to the Sea Kings’

Division III championship.

“Next year Jenny will be in the elite group,” Coach Bill Sumner said of

Cummins, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week. “She sees what Liz is doing

and instead of being resentful, she says, ‘How can I do what Liz is doing

to make myself better.’ The chemistry between them is perfect.”

Cummins started out playing soccer as a youngster before starting her

running career at CdM.

“I didn’t get into track until junior high,” Cummins said. “I started

running and I really enjoyed it a lot.”

After an undefeated career at the junior high level, Cummins is now

making her mark at the prep level.

“She’s an up and coming star,” Sumner said. “She’s bright and very

coachable. She also knows she has a lot of ability and works hard to get

the most out of it.”

Despite her success in her individual sports, Cummins is a bigger fan of

the relay, where she teams up with Morse, Jaycee Mahler and her sister,

Becky Cummins.

“I always get geared up for that,” Cummins said. “Running first, I try to

break out as fast as I can to try to give the lead to the next runner.”

With her strong work ethic and her participation on the cross country in

the Fall, Cummins feels her strength comes late.

“The finish is the best part for me,” Cummins said. “That last kick is

what’s making the difference. During the middle, I just try to hang on.”

Sumner has been coaching Cummins for three years now at the high school

level and believes that the little things are what makes her so

successful.

“With her heart, talent, knowledge and patience, she’ll go a lot farther

than someone else with her raw ability,” Sumner said. “I try to push my

kids mentally in their races and Jenny is very strong in that

department.”

When not on the track, Cummins might be found near the stables. She’s

competed in numerous horse-jumping competitions, but during the season,

just hanging out with friends is good enough.

“With all the running in cross country and track, I haven’t been able to

compete in many horse shows,” Cummins said. “I still have a great time,

when I can ride, though.”