Hills East’s Jessica Grover Walks Her Way To A Junior Olympic Title Wins 3,000-meter Race Walk By A Margin Of More Than A Minute

On July 25th, 2017, Half Hollow Hills High School East’s Jessica Grover was crowned national champion of the 3,000-meter race walk in the 15-16 year-old division at the 51st USA Track & Field Hershey National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. Grover dominated the field in her age group, finishing nearly a minute ahead of second place with a time of 16:01.98.

In order for Grover to get to this championship meet she needed to qualify twice; once on Long Island and again in Massachusetts.  Astonishingly, Grover only recently began competing in the race walk this past winter season.

“I’m still amazed to have won this race in a field of so many other great young competitors,” said Grover, an incoming junior at Hills East. “I hope to keep improving on my times over the next two years.”

The USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field program is one of the most visible youth athletic development programs in the world. Many of today’s Olympic stars began their track and field careers competing in the USATF’s Junior Olympic meets.

“We are thrilled with Jessie’s accomplishments at the Junior Olympics,” said Mitchel Troise, Assistant Coach of the Half Hollow Hills Varsity Girls Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field Program. “Our entire team is looking forward to what the future may bring for her young career.”

ABOUT HALF HOLLOW HILLS:

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 8,400 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The District is committed to providing students opportunities to excel in academics, athletics, and the arts.