Track and Field signs top javelin prospect Jennings

PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s track and field has signed Sam Jennings, the nation’s No. 1 ranked high school javelin thrower, the program announced on Friday.

Jennings hails from Pendleton, Oregon and competes for Pendleton High School. Over the course of his high school career Jennings has garnered numerous honors as its star thrower. Jennings won the 2021 Oregon State Javelin Championship with a throw of 57.91m/190. While only a freshman in 2019, Jennings took fourth at the state meet.

"BYU has a good history of javelin throwers that have come out of the state of Oregon, and Sam adds to that tradition," said BYU throws coach Niklas Arrhenius. "Sam is the best high school men's thrower we've had sign with BYU since Chris Reno in 2005."

Jennings set the Pendleton High School javelin throw record of 63.83m/209-5 and recorded his personal-best of 68.52m/224-9.75 at the USA Track and Field Association Oregon Championships in Portland on July 10, 2021.

Jennings was unanimously voted a team captain by Pendleton coaches in 2022 and was also recruited by track powerhouse Oregon prior to signing with BYU.

Following full-time missionary service in Bismarck, North Dakota, Jennings will join the Cougars as they make their foray into Big 12 competition. 

"Sam will be important to our team's ability to compete for a Big 12 Championship," Arrhenius said.

BYU track and field continues its season with the conclusion of the Robison Invitational on Saturday and three meets, highlighted by the Penn Relays, on April 28-30.