Eric Jenkins Retires: The Exit Interview

"It just felt like the right time. My body hasn’t held up to the training necessary to compete. There’s nothing I can really do about it. I’m so thankful for the career that I had. It’s led me to some of the best connections and relationships in my life. I couldn’t imagine I would’ve got this far when I started. The competitor in me believes there are things I could’ve done that I didn’t but that’s how it goes in this sport. You’re never going to be truly satisfied."

After eight years of running professionally, Eric Jenkins has retired. The announcement was made on the latest episode of The CITIUS MAG Podcast. The Portsmouth, New Hampshire native finished his career with personal bests of 3:35.94 for 1500m; 3:53.23 for the mile, 13:05.85 for 5000m and 27:22.06 for 10,000m. 

He broke out as a junior at Northeastern when he ran 7:46.21 to finish second in the 3,000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships (the ninth-fastest performance in NCAA history at the time) only to be DQ’ed controversially. He went on to transfer to Oregon and finished second at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships before winning two individual indoor titles at 3000m and 5000m.

Jenkins graduated and signed with Nike and spent time working under Alberto Salazar and the Nike Oregon Project, Pete Julian and the Union Athletics Club and Andy Powell. While many people within the track and field community may think of him for his reputation as a fun off-season guy or his hilarious Instagram videos, many don’t realize just how intense he was as an athlete. It showed when he finished fourth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, qualified for the 2017 World Championships and managed to win the Millrose Games’ Wanamaker Mile and 5th Avenue Mile.

Listen to the full conversation on The CITIUS MAG Podcast for more stories by Jenkins including being a punk in high school, deciding to take the sport seriously/breaking out at Northeastern, #FreeJenkins, landing at Oregon and winning two titles, his time at the Nike Oregon Project and what he considers his best race ever. Plus, why you may not be done hearing from him.
Host: Chris Chavez | @Chris_J_Chavez on Instagram

Guest: Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins on Instagram

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