Jennifer Olson

Jennifer Olson’s high school career was characterized by talent and consistency. A consummate team player, Jennifer would run any race, at any time to help her team. Her quiet, shy nature masked a fierce competitive spirit. Jennifer earned eight varsity letters in Cross Country and Track, and two in basketball.

In four years of Cross Country, she never placed lower than fourth in the Cowapa League’s District Championships. Twice (1984 & 87) she placed second. These four finishes earned her First Team All-League Honors every year. Jennifer led her team to the District Championship in 1984, 86 and 87. Those three teams placed seventh, sixth and eighth respectively at the Oregon State Championships. In her four State Championship Cross Country races, Jennifer placed 9th, 18th, 9th and 11th, making the All State Team all four years. In 1984 and 1986 she raced to top ten finishes and earned special All-State recognitions. Jennifer still holds the school record (13:50) for the 1.8 mile distance around Coffenbury Lake. Her cross country teammates voter her Most Valuable in 1984, '85, '86 and '87.

As a track and field athlete, Jennifer’s career was equally consistent. In four years of Cowapa League District Championships, she won All-League Honors in the following races:

1985- First Place 1,600 meter relay

Second place 800 meters

1986- Second place 1,500 meters

Second place 800 meters

Second place 1,600 meter relay

1987- Second place 1,500 meters

Third place 800 meters

1988- First place 1,500 meters

Second place 800 meters

Second place 1,600 meter relay

In 1987 and 1988 her team voted her Most Dedicated Track Athlete. Jennifer set AHS records in the 800 and the 3,000 meters. Although these have since been broken, her 1,500 meter record of 4:50.55 and her 1985 mile relay team’s record of 4:06.29 still stand to this date.

At the Oregon State Track Meet Championships from 1985 though 1988 Jennifer’s performances were:

1985- Second place 1,600 meter relay (All-State Team)

Sixth place 800 meters

1986- Seventh place 1,600 meter relay

Eighth place 1,500 meters

1987- Fourth place 1,500 meters

Eighth place 800 meters

In 1988, Jennifer’s last State Championship Meet saw her set a new school record by placing second in the 1,500 meters in 4:50.55 and then come back to win the State Championship in the 800 meters (2:22.). She finished her career with a fifth race in back to back days by helping her mile relay team place seventh with a lifetime best of 59 seconds for her 400 meter split. These races gave Jennifer a career total of 13 State Championship final races. Her 1985 relay team was All-State and she was All-State in 1988 in both the 800 and 1,500 meters.

Jennifer earned the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Cowapa League every year from 1985-1988. In 1988 she also earned the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Oregon School Activities Association, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the United States Army Reserve.

While in college Jennifer competed in Cross Country and track for the University of Portland. There for two years, 1988 and 1989, she placed fourth in the West Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships and her team was conference champions. Both years she was selected Most Inspirational. Jennifer earned the West Coast Scholar-Athlete Award in 1988 and 1989. Her running career ended in 1989 when her knee was injured.

With Jennifer’s induction, AHS’s Athletic Hall of Fame welcomes its first father-daughter combination as her father Gerald was a member of the original class inducted in 1997.