ROCKINGHAM — Picking up most of the track and field team’s points last week, senior jumper Tyrene McKenzie has been named the Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week presented by Rockingham NC Self Storage.
The Richmond Raiders hosted two teams in Thursday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference meet and McKenzie fueled the Raiders to a second-place finish by winning three events.
McKenzie, who is already qualified for the 4A East regionals in one event, earned his second career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Year: Senior
Spring sport: Track and field
Events: High, long and triple jumps
Varsity experience: 3 seasons
“CLASSROOM CREDITS” WITH TYRENE McKENZIE
Nearly halfway through his final semester of high school, McKenzie is taking his final four classes at Richmond this spring.
He’s currently enrolled in Entrepreneurship I, Math, Public Safety I and Weight Training.
During the fall semester, McKenzie earned an A in Weight Training and recorded Bs in Carpentry II Honors and English IV.
“JUMPING THE DISTANCE” WITH TYRENE McKENZIE
The Raiders earned 35 points as a team during their home meet against Hoke County and Southern Lee high schools Thursday.
McKenzie was responsible for 15 points, winning three jumping events — the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Blowing away the competition in all three events, McKenzie won the high jump by clearing the bar at an impressive 6 feet, 4 inches. Taking second place was Javin Marshall (Hoke County), who cleared 5 feet, 8 inches.
That performance qualified McKenzie for the 4A East regional meet later this spring. He’s currently ranked second in the state in the event, according to head coach John Rich.
McKenzie defeated his opponents by nearly two feet in the long jump, leaping out to a final mark of 19 feet, 7 inches. The closest competitor was Marconi Steele (Hoke County), who landed at 17 feet, 10 inches.
Rounding out his three-win performance, McKenzie recorded a distance of 39 feet, 5 inches. Steele placed second again, an entire foot behind McKenzie’s mark.
The Raiders will host Hoke County in another home meet Wednesday. Events will start at 5 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: McKenzie was not available for a video interview at the time of publication.
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Student-Athletes of the Week next week.
