Jett Kinder is headed West.
The talented Brentwood High School multi-event athlete will already go down as one of the greats in recent memory in the state of Tennessee. He's the defending state champion and indoor national champion. And he's already represented Team USA as well.
When making his college decision, Jett was looking for a family atmosphere.
He found that on his visit to Eugene.
"On my visit to Oregon what impressed me the most was the team
atmosphere," he told us in an interview this week. "Everyone was each other's best friend. While I was there, I went to
a birthday party and everyone from the team showed up. All the event groups intermingled,
and everyone was smiling the whole time. I also loved their practices and
touring what will be the greatest track stadium in the world in new Hayward
really excited me for the future."
The history. The camaraderie. The prestige.
All of that made the Ducks the right decision for Kinder.
"Oregon was the right choice for all types of reasons," he added. "The history of course is incredible. It's located in track town USA in Eugene. Historic Hayward field is the landmark of American track and Coach Henson really sold the program and team in a way that was super enticing."
It's not easy separating just one school from your favorites. Kinder also took visits to Tennessee, North Carolina and Navy. In Eugene, he connected with the coaching staff and appreciated just how close the team is on and off the track.
In the end, he said that was the deciding factor in choosing the Ducks.
"The coaching staff really just reiterated the family aspect of
Oregon," he said. "They said everyone trains together and everyone grows together through
friendly competition in the weight room and on the hills and at the track. They
also said they wanted to have an all-around program and that starts with the multis.
And as a multi that made me feel like I have a special place on the team."
Before he joins the Ducks up in Eugene, Kinder still has one more indoor and outdoor season left in Middle Tennessee.
He's got a lot of lofty goals before he graduates.
But the main one? Bringing home another team state title.
"My goals for this season are first of all to win a third team state championship," he said. "Brentwood track is most important and that team title with my best friends is the biggest accomplishment we could possibly hope for."
But of course, he's got some huge individual goals too.
"I would like to win New Balance Indoor again. And follow that by breaking Harrison Williams' Tennessee state decathlon record."
