ZOOM SPOONS



The story of the Spoons is one of great importance. Contrary to what you may be thinking, I am not talking about the spoons that one would use for eating. No my friend, for this is the story about a brilliant pair of track spikes and where they took a girl with hopes and dreams. These spikes that can do whimsical wonders if you respect them for what they are and what they represent.

It all started back in the spring of 2000, in a little town in northern California known as Chico. Track season was just around the corner. I recall in early February, my roommate saying that she didn't think she was in shape to run her final year of track. "Oh c'mon Jenny. You just ran a 2:23 indoor and you think you aren't in shape?" I said. She's a very modest girl and always has a smile on her face. She eventually changed her mind and decided to run. The season began and Jenny was doing quite well for herself. She PR'ed by a few seconds here and there, but the show was yet to begin. Just before the halfway point of the season she went online to get a new pair of spikes. Jenny got the "Nike Zoom W's" which are made especially for women. After that, Jenny was unstoppable, surprising everyone along the way, even herself. As the season progressed, records were falling. Left and right, across the board, Jenny Spoon broke 3 school records, ran the 2nd fastest 800 and 3rd fastest 10K along the way, with times of: 2:16.26, 4:32.72, 9:46.46, 17:22.43, and 36:48.85. Her unprecedented talent cannot just be seen from looking at times alone. Even though she had many great accomplishments throughout the season, I think the event that will forever stand out in the minds and hearts of those that watched her run would be her experience in Raleigh, North Carolina, the site of the 2000 National DII Track and Field Championships (May 25-27th).

Spoon(L) and Mills "Jenny had qualified for Nationals in 3 different events this season and would compete (though reluctantly) in the 1500 [with trials], 3000, and the 5000m." (Coach Gary Towne) Thursday (day 1) was the 1500 trials. With a 4:34 PR going into the race (5/13/00), she "cruised" through her heat, tying her PR and advancing to the final to be held Saturday. On Friday was the 3000m final. Ranked 7th going in with a PR of 9:53 (5/13/00), she ran a new PR and Chico State record of 9:46.46 while placing 4th. Saturday was the final day of competition and Jenny still had to compete in both the 1500m and 5000m final. First up was the 1500. The start of the race went out in 68, but Jenny held on to nab 3rd place with a NEW PR and CSUC record of 4:32.72. With 3 races under her belt in the last 48 hours the only obstacle that lay ahead of her was the 5000m. Jenny had the 10th fastest time going into the race. She went through the first mile in 5:20 (sub 17min pace) not even in the top 10 of the race. But true to form, Jenny didn't give up. She dug deeper than she ever thought possible and finished 8th in the race, just off her PR but with a time of 17:29. Not too shabby, after having already run 3 other fast races.
With Top 8 getting All-American honors, Jenny's 3rd, 4th, and 8th place finishes earned her 3 All-American certificates in 50 hours. Most of us work our whole college career to try and get just one. This all coming from a girl that didn't think she was in shape to race this year.

After hearing about how amazing Jenny ran, we (her Chico teammates) thought of doing something in order to commemorate her great races. As the 2001 Track season rolled around a few of us were trying to decide which spikes to get for the year. Most of us chose to get the Nike Zoom W's that Jenny had worn the year before. This would give us something to shoot for. "Maybe if I wear these, I'll get to be an All-American." Or simply "Maybe I CAN achieve my goals." At the first race we were telling stories to our friends and competitors about the spikes and about Jenny Spoon. From that day on we started calling the spikes the Zoom Spoons! We thought that this was such a great idea that the name stuck. Since then, we no longer refer to the Nike Zoom W's as such, because anybody who's anybody calls them the SPOONS.

The Spoons are a symbol of:
*Pushing yourself beyond what you thought possible.
*Digging deeper than you thought you had before.
*Never holding back.
*Never settling.
*Finish knowing you gave it your ALL.
Above all, the Spoons are a symbol of believing in yourself.

Where are your Spoons?
~LR


To read Coach Gary Towne's more-in-depth story of Jenny at NCAAs click here.

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