The Jenkins family has always believed that success is measured by far more than medals, records or trophies.
For Bryan, Summer, Tyler and Delana Jenkins, running has become the thread that ties together countless weekends on the road, early morning alarms, unforgettable family adventures, and a support system built on encouragement, sacrifice and unconditional love.
While Tyler and Delana continue to work hard in the classroom and on the course and track, their story cannot be told without recognizing the two people who have spent years cheering from the sidelines. Whether it’s driving hundreds of miles for a race, pacing nervously around a track, or simply offering one final word of encouragement before the starting gun, Bryan and Summer have become just as much a part of their children’s success as the countless miles they have logged in training.
“I just tell them to go out, have fun and kill it,” Bryan said with a laugh when asked what advice he gives Tyler and Delana before races.
It’s simple, honest advice that reflects the family’s approach to competition. The results matter, but enjoying the process has always come first. That philosophy has certainly paid off.
Tyler Jenkins has established himself as one of the premier distance runners in the nation. His resume is remarkable.
He is a three-time NAIA Cross Country All-American and six-time NAIA Track and Field All-American, giving him nine All-America honors overall. During high school, he earned both indoor and outdoor All-State recognition while setting Barnesville High School records in the indoor 3200 meters (9:33.93) and outdoor 3200 meters (9:19.83).
At the University of Rio Grande, Tyler has rewritten the record book, setting school records in the 8K cross country (24:16.20), indoor 5,000 meters (14:19.69), outdoor 5,000 meters (14:22.69), indoor mile (4:13.31) and 10,000 meters (29:47.93).
He has also captured three River States Conference Cross Country championships, 12 individual conference track titles and earned Track Athlete of the Year honors three times.
Those accomplishments didn’t happen overnight. A typical summer training day begins with a light snack before heading out for an eight-to-13-mile run. After refueling, Tyler spends time at Saffell Performance Training in Bethesda for strength work before finishing the day with an easier second run. As his fall training reaches its peak, he’ll run nearly 90 miles per week.
His nutrition philosophy is equally straightforward.
“I pretty much just eat a lot,” Tyler said. “My main meals are usually more protein and fat-based, and I make up for everything else with snacks.”
One staple rarely missing from his daily routine is milk mixed with chocolate protein powder.
As Tyler prepares to return to Rio Grande as a graduate assistant coach for the cross country and track teams, he’s equally excited about helping develop the next generation of runners while pursuing additional education in kinesiology and working toward becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
His advice to younger athletes is rooted in learning.
“Find resources beyond just your team or your coaches,” he said. “But don’t take everything at face value. Learn why something works.”
Tyler has also played an important role in helping his younger sister, Delana, transition to college athletics. He credits Rio Grande’s culture more than anything else.
“I helped her get recruited and encouraged her to stick with it until she found a team willing to work together,” Tyler said. “The culture at Rio is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Everybody genuinely gets along.”
Delana’s journey to the University of Rio Grande has been about much more than continuing her running career. It’s been a step toward finding confidence, independence and a place where she truly feels she belongs. The transition from high school to college athletics has challenged her to become more organized while balancing classes, schoolwork, travel, training and recovery, but it has also helped her grow both as an athlete and as a person. That adjustment has been made easier by familiar faces, especially her brother Tyler, whom she once again gets to call a teammate.
“It’s honestly really special being able to run at the same school with Tyler again. We’ve spent so many years watching each other race and cheering each other on, so now being able to do that at the college level is pretty awesome. It’s also fun getting to see each other at practice and races and have a familiar face around. Having Tyler at Rio definitely made the transition to college feel a little more comfortable, and I’m really grateful we get to share this experience together, “commented Delana.
After years of watching each other race and offering encouragement from the sidelines, the siblings now share practices, meets and the everyday experiences of collegiate running. Delana also found comfort in seeing runners she knew from the area, including Ohio Martins Ferry alum, Josie Hancock, during a visit to Rio during her senior year, when she had the opportunity to practice with the team and connect with its runners and coaches. Josie played a major role in Delana’s decision to attend the school. Perhaps the biggest lesson Delana has learned, however, is one she hopes other high school athletes will carry with them: “do it afraid.”
“You know yourself better than anybody else does. Debating whether or not to run in college was a decision that was always tough for me, but it took a lot of courage and belief to realize that I belong here. I had to trust my instincts and follow what my heart was telling me, even when I was scared and unsure of what the future would look like. I’ve learned that you don’t have to be completely fearless to take a big step. You just have to be willing to do it even when you’re afraid. Believe in the work you’ve put in, trust yourself, and don’t let fear make the decision for you. Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from simply taking that leap forward and doing it afraid.”
For Summer, watching her children race has evolved over the years. Ironically, she admits she was more nervous when they competed in high school than she is today.
“They’ve matured into confident runners,” she said. “That allows me to be a little calmer now.”
A little calmer doesn’t mean completely relaxed. During major meets where national qualifying standards are on the line, their mom, Summer keeps one eye on the track and another glued to the live timing feed. After more than a decade following the sport, she knows exactly what lap times are needed to qualify. When the anxiety becomes too much, she starts pacing. Cross country offers a different outlet.
Summer explained, “I’m that person running all over the course trying to catch a glimpse of them wherever I can.”
Like many athletic families, weekends often revolve around race schedules. Fortunately, both Tyler and Delana are competing together, roughly 2.5 hours from home.
“It really is nice having them both at the same school,” Summer said. “I’m not trying to juggle two different schedules.”
That wasn’t always the case. When Tyler was already competing in college Delana was still in high school, the family routinely found themselves making marathon road trips.
One trip has become a family legend if you will.
Tyler competed at Liberty University around 8 p.m. on a Friday evening. As soon as his race ended, the family climbed back into the car and drove through the night so they could make it home in time for Delana’s first high school event at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
“We watched Tyler race, drove all night and made it just in time,” Summer recalled.
Thankfully, she says Bryan and extended family members, especially her mother, have never hesitated to join those adventures.
“They never say no to my crazy ideas.” Summer said with a laugh. Bryan’s perspective is a little different. Working early mornings has prepared him well for Tyler and Delana’s race weekends.
“I get up at five every day for work,” he said. “So getting up early for meets doesn’t bother me.”
Instead, he enjoys turning meets into family weekends. Although Tyler and Delana now attend college only about two hours away, Bryan appreciates having them close enough to visit while still gaining their independence.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said.
Watching his own children, and countless runners they’ve competed alongside, has given him a greater appreciation for the commitment required to running.
“Everyone gives 100 percent,” he said. “Whether it’s my family or people I don’t even know.”
Despite years of encouragement from Tyler and Delana, Bryan admits there is one thing he still hasn’t fully embraced. Running alongside them. Occasionally he’ll sign up for a local race or walk, but he usually prefers standing at the finish line waiting to cheer.
“My 30-minute 5K isn’t going to catch them,” he joked. “I’d rather watch them finish.”
That sense of humor perfectly captures the Jenkins family. Yes, there are records, All-America honors and conference championships. There are long training runs, national qualifying standards and countless miles traveled across the country. But beyond the accomplishments lies something even more meaningful.
A father offering simple words of encouragement before every race. A mother pacing the bleachers and sprinting across cross country courses for one more glimpse of her children. A brother helping guide his sister into a college program built on teamwork. And a family that has never allowed distance, exhaustion or long nights on the highway to stand in the way of supporting one another. For the Jenkins family, every finish line is more than the end of a race.
It’s another chapter in a journey built on faith in one another, unwavering support and the belief that success is always better when it’s shared together.
