J. CHRIS JENSEN MEMORIAL RUN
REASONS FOR THE MEET AND BANQUET

J. Chris Jensen

The first organizational committee saw a need to have one County meet in which all runners would compete against one another regardless of the size of their school. The goal was to promote the sport of cross country in Jackson County. The committee also agreed there would be a banquet to honor the award winners of this special event. The banquet would be one that would not have to be shared with any other sport.

Mike Goodwin of Parkside won the 1st Jensen run in 1969.

About the same time the meet and banquet plans were being made, Jackson County lost an outstanding educator and coach, J. Chris Jensen. Chris Jensen was known throughout the State of Michigan as a leader in education as well as an excellent coach. The many young men he coached hold him in the highest regard. His fellow coaches looked to him for leadership.

Chris Jensen coached at Jackson High School from 1943 to 1965. During that time his teams won 5 league championships and were champions of the State of Michigan three times.

The special cross country meet and banquet, created in 1969, were named in his honor. In 1985, an Alumni run was added. Meet records (5k) were set by Cindy Reed of Napoleon (18:13.8) in 1982 and Lee Kingsley of Western and Steve Hubbard of Concord (15:48) in 1983.