Introducing Jordynn West: The Future of Running is Young, Female and Fearless

By Brianna Allen, Contributor

A native of Southern California and raised in Chicago, Jordynn West first discovered her love for running after competitively running the 800M for the first time at age nine. She’d grown up always racing her brothers and friends around the neighborhood, but it was at this race where she realized she wanted to compete in a major way. Now, the 15-year-old track and cross-country athlete is setting the pace for the next generation of runners.

After leaving Chicago, Jordynn and her family moved to Texas, where she was enrolled as a sophomore at Waxahachie High School, just outside of Dallas. A versatile athlete, Jordynn began to compete in a variety of distances. Currently, she enjoys running track and Cross Country, doing the 1-mile and 800m races, which are her best distances.

“It’s not easy, so you have to make sure you’re having fun. I feel like you shouldn’t do it if it’s not fun. ”

— Jordynn West, 15, Student Athlete

For a young athlete, Jordynn has achieved a lot of success. During the Texas state regional cross country meet, she placed second, clocking in at 11:30:64, making this her personal best record. In 2019, she won the club championships in the 3000m, with a time of 10:27 and the 1500m at 4:49.

While she is happy with her accomplishments, Jordynn is always looking for ways to push herself to the next level. "I tell myself I have to do it because I know it will make me better," she says.

The Student-Athlete Balance

With a busy academic schedule and demanding training, it can understandably be difficult for to stay on top of everything as a student athlete. She takes an active role in her own training and stays motivated and organized by establishing a daily routine and healthy eating habits.

"I like to cook,” says Jordynn, “and it's beneficial for me because I can make all the right recipes for my training. I particularly like to take the recommended recipes [for runners] and make them my own."

Between rigorous practices, a full course load, and the day-to-day pressures of life as a teenager, things can get hectic. The key, she says, is to always ensure you’re enjoying what you’re doing.

"It's not easy, so you have to make sure you're having fun. I feel like you shouldn't do it if it's not fun. There's no point if you're not. Don't be too hard on yourself," says Jordynn.

Running for Good

When Jordynn isn't running or focusing on excelling as a high school student, she loves creating social media content and serving her community through her non-profit organization, JW Believe Foundation. She founded the organization in February 2020 while competing in the Grand Bahama islands. The devastation of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 had impacted the island as one of strongest landfalling hurricanes ever recorded, and Jordynn was inspired to donate track spikes and running gear to local athletes who had lost everything.

The organization was "founded on strong beliefs that individuals and communities can partner together in providing opportunities for athletes to demonstrate their talents with the aid of small financial grants, essential equipment donations, and scholarship opportunities." Although Jordynn is still very early in her track career, she is committed to paving the way for other young athletes to be successful and helping to provide the resources to get them there.

Finding Mentors as a Runner

Although training is critical to Jordynn's success, it's also essential for her to have guidance and support from mentors, family, and friends to help along the journey. "Having someone to look up to is important. I have people I look up to, and I want to be the same for others one day," she says.

Baylor University runner and NCAA champion Aliyah Miller has been someone Jordynn looks up to and aspires to be like as a competitive runner. After connecting on social media, Jordynn says, she would go to Aaliyah’s races and they would talk afterward, where Aaliyah would offer words of encouragement.

"She's like a sister to me. She's great," says Jordynn.

For Jordynn’s next big challenge, she hopes to qualify and compete in her high school’s upcoming state-level track and cross country meets again. In the long-term, she aspires to run at the collegiate level and eventually compete in an NCAA Championship.

Though Jordynn is a young athlete, she has a very bright future ahead of her, and ultimately has her eyes on becoming a professional runner. She also has her sights set on training to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

Young, fearless and a rising star, Jordynn West is a name to look out for on the track, and with her balanced focus on school, family and community, she’s already on a path to having a major impact on the sport of running and the next generation of young athletes.

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Jordynn West is a talented young athlete who has her sights set on becoming a professional runner. With a bright future ahead of her, she’s training to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Get to know Jordynn and her passion for running here on RUNGRL.co.