The Jesuit Men’s Track and Cross Country program has proved to be an athletic powerhouse in the past five years, producing division one talent as well as winning their respective league and state championships countless times. Within the past four years one athlete has stood out in this program as he has broken countless records whilst bettering the Track and Cross Country team at Jesuit, his name is Jacob Nenow.

Nenow has been a part of the Varsity team at Jesuit since his freshman year. Nenow, a senior, graduating in the class of 2023 committed to the University of Tennessee, is an absolute masterclass when it comes to the distance side of running. He has grown up idolizing greats of the sport such as Kenenisa Bekele as well as looking up to his very own father, Mark Nenow, who held the American record for the 10,000 meter run. Nenow has some incredible accomplishments on the track with impressive times of 3:54.13 in the 1500m, 4:16.08 in the 1 mile, 8:16.54 in the 3000m (a school record), and an astonishing 5000m time of 14:52.2. Nenow also won the 2022 6A OSAA Boys Cross Country State Championship as an individual as well as the Jesuit Team winning the team title.

Jesuit Media caught up with Nenow to reflect on his time in the Jesuit Distance Running Program as well as to gain some insight into his running career as he moves on from Jesuit to a much more elite stage.

Nenow had a late start to his track and field season as a senior.

“So it started for me in early April. I was sick in the winter but then I started feeling better so I was ready to run fast”.

Nenow bursted out of the gates running very well in his first couple major races. He highlighted some of his major accomplishments.

“I think my best accomplishments so far this season were the 3200m at Arcadia in California in April. I ran 8:47, That’s pretty good. And then Twilight Relays in the mile, I ran 4:11 with Josh Augustine (Jesuit Distance Teammate) who also ran 4:11”.

Nenow had a fantastic start to the season running some very impressive times in some very high profile races. As the season went on, Nenow didn’t disappoint, placing very high in the end of year championships in the metro league and earning spots in the state championship race.

“And then Josh Augustine, Gus Clevenger, and I qualified to state in the 3000m and 1500m.”

Nenow went into state with very high expectations hoping to build off of his individual win in the 2022 OSAA Cross Country state championship.

“Yeah, I mean, I think, individually, I’m trying to just have my best shot to win the 3k. I think that’s my best distance, better than the 1500m. So that’s probably my main goal, then run fast in both and I think, as a team, I mean, our team overall is not as strong this year, but I think the distance guys like Josh and Gus, if us three can, like be really high up in state in both the 3k and 1500m. That’d be pretty cool,”.

Nenow did just this, winning the 3k as an individual and placing 8th in the 1500m. The win in the 3000m marked the end of an amazing high school career for one of Jesuit’s most decorated athletes to be a part of the distance team. Looking back on his time in the Jesuit program, Nenow credits his coaches and family for all of his success, and most importantly his teammates who he will miss the most. Nenow talked about his favorite memories of his time in the Jesuit program.

“I think it’s just hanging out with the guys and getting such good, close relationships with them. Especially Gus, Josh, and Caden Swanson, doing team trips in track such as state, and in cross country going on the bonding team beach trip, so a lot of team fun has to be my favorite memory of my time here at Jesuit”.

Nenow looks to make his next step in his running career as he will be embarking on his journey during the fall of next year at the University of Tennessee, a very strong distance program. Nenow is ecstatic to start at Tennessee.

“Yeah, I mean, I really just loved my visit, when I went there in December. The Coaches are great, and the facilities are great. So I’m really excited to run at an even higher level, train with really good guys, and also I’m planning to study math, so I’m excited for that”.

Overall, Jacob Nenow has been an incredible athlete at Jesuit for the past four years, breaking countless records, and contributing to the Jesuit community and athletics. Nenow’s teammates have valued their time with him and are very interested to see where his running career takes him. The Jesuit community wishes all the best for Jacob as he graduates and moves on to college to pursue his running career representing his alma mater Jesuit High School.