LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock Track and Field program bolstered its staff by hiring Olympic Gold Medalist Jeff Henderson as assistant coach.
Success breeds success, and Henderson is familiar with producing on the world's biggest stage, claiming the gold medal in the long jump at the 2016 games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
It was the first gold medal in the long jump for the United States since 2004.
"It is an absolute honor to have Jeff Henderson joining our coaching staff to assist with our horizontal jumpers," Little Rock Director of Track and Field and Cross Country J.P. Behnke said. "Jeff won a gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and I am excited that our athletes have the opportunity to work with and learn from someone who has reached the pinnacle of our sport."
Henderson is a native of McAlmont, Ark., and attended Sylvian Hills High School, where he won the 2007 Class 6A state title in the long jump and the 2007 Arkansas Meet of Champions.
At the college level, Henderson competed for Hinds Community College, Florida Memorial University and Stillman College. He was the NJCAA Division I 2008 Indoor National Champion in the long jump, the 2008 Outdoor National Champion in the long jump, and the 2009 Outdoor National Champion in the long jump.
Before competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics, Henderson won gold in the long jump at the 2015 Pan American Games, recording a personal best of 8.58m.
The Trojans are currently in their outdoor track and field season. They'll continue action at the two-day Robert Platt Invitational, hosted by the University of Houston, on Jan. 26.