Ja’la Henderson earned that distinction last season by placing 15th in the triple jump, but she felt like she was capable of more. Performing on the national stage for the first time in her collegiate career, nerves admittedly played a factor for her. Davis’ triple jump of 42 feet, 8.25 inches was just long enough for All-American status while she failed to crack the top 16 in the long jump.
“I kind of was starstruck by other people,” Henderson said of last year’s championships. “We’ve really been working on me feeling like I belong. A lot of times, I see other individuals and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s super far.