Jessica Denver signs a letter of intent as her sister Jenna, mom Martha and father Brad look on.
IMLAY CITY — Imlay City’s Jessica Denver signed a letter of intent to become a part of the Catawba (Salisbury, North Carolina) women’s cross country and track programs this past Friday.
She is coming off an outstanding senior season with Imlay City’s cross country team.
It was there Denver logged a Tri-City best clocking of 19:43.3 en route to a second Tuesday, September 22 at a Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet.
Goodells County Park is where the meet was contested.
She earned the distinction of race pacesetter at a Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet hosted by Cros-Lex; the Port Huron High Invitational and at a Division 2 pre-regional hosted by Lutheran North High School; obtained seconds at the Blue Water Area Conference Meet contested at Columbus County Park as well as the Austin Catholic/New Life Christian Invitational; generated thirds at the Webberville-based Happy Acres Invitational and Marysville Invitational; collected fourths at the Birch Run Fall Invitational and a Division 2 regional hosted by Algonac High School; plus provided a 140th at the Division 2 state meet at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn,
Denver wrapped up the year as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team selection and Tri-City Times All-Area first team choice.
She also excelled as a member of Imlay City’s track team her sophomore campaign in 2019.
Denver displayed her skills over the 800-meter run distance, stopping the watch at 2:25.51 for third Friday, May 17 at a Division 2 regional hosted by Clio High School.
She pulled up first at the Davison-based Shake Off the Rust Invitational and Cavalier Classic True Team Invitational Invitational in Corunna; took second at the Davison Twilight Classic and Blue Water Area Conference League Meet hosted by Armada High School; furnished thirds at the Marlette Invitational and and at a Division 2 regional in Clio; plus obtained a fourth at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions.
For her finishes, Denver landed a spot on The Tri-City Times All-Area first team lineup.
She joined forces with McKinzie Winget, Sarah Hubbard and Robin LeFevere to earn Tri-City Times All-Area first team accolades in the 1600 relay.
A team consisting of Winget, Hubbard, Denver and LeFevere posted a season’s-best time of 4:06.9 en route to a sixth Saturday, June 1 at the Division 2 state finals in Zeeland.
For their performance, the quartet earned All-State accolades.
A team consisting of Winget, Hubbard, Denver and LeFevere took first at the Kearsley Relays; a team of Ana Lengemann, Mary Lengemann, Denver and Winget wound up first at the Corunna-based Cavalier Classic True Team Invitational; a team of Ana Lengemann, Denver, Hubbard and Winget wound up first at the Davison Twilight Classic; a team of Denver, Hubbard, Ana Lengemann and Winget registered a first at the Armada-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; a lineup of Aubrie Behrick, Kayla Louwsma, Winget and Denver registered a second at the Davison-based Shake Off the Rust Invitational; a team of Denver, Hubbard, Behrick and Winget took second at the Marlette Invitational; a team of Winget, Hubbard, Denver and LeFevere provided seconds at a Division 2 regional in Clio and at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions; plus a quartet of Winget, Hubbard, Denver and LeFevere added a sixth at the Division 2 state finals in Zeeland (earning All-State accolades as a result).
She also excelled in the 3200-meter relay, joining Sarah Hubbard, Ana Lengemann and Mary Lengemann to attain Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
The quartet was at their quickest when they registered a clocking of 9:57.82 for second at a Clio-based Division 2 regional on Friday, May 17.
An Imlay City lineup of Ana Lengemann, Mary Lengemann, Denver and Hubbard took first at the Kearsley Relays; Armada-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet and Blue Water Area Meet of Champions in Marysville; a quartet of Kayla Louwsma, Mary Lengemann, Denver and Hubbard set the pace at the Kearsley Relays; a lineup of Ana Lengemann, Mary Lengemann, Denver and Hubbard furnished seconds at the Davison Twilight Classic, a Clio-based Division 2 regional and Thumb Meet of Champions in Caro; plus furnished a 16th at the Division 2 state finals in Zeeland.
Denver did not have a junior track season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
