Lance Jensen ’24 was an underdog who came out on top.
By Kris Dreessen
Sprinter Lance Jensen ’24 enjoys racing as the underdog, coming up on his competitors on the track, and edging past them.
In the Division III NCAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, Jensen entered the final 400m race with the seventh-fastest time—and took home first place.
Jensen’s time of 46.95 seconds is the third fastest in Division III history.
“I went out faster than everyone else and won the first of two laps, so I could cut to the inside of the track. They would have to go around me to overtake me,” remembers Jensen. “When I saw my time, I just lit up. It was so exciting! I usually don’t cheer after a race, but I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was screaming, ‘Let’s go!’ and ran over to my teammates to high-five everyone.”
This was Jensen’s third national champion title earned during his Geneseo track and field career. In 2023, he won the 400m hurdles at the outdoor track and field NCAA meet, and he was part of the winning 4×400 relay team in the 2023 indoor track and field NCAA meet.
Jensen ran track in middle and high school in Candor, NY, and he’s been on the Geneseo indoor and outdoor teams his entire four years. It’s hard work, but he loves it. There are daily workouts, weight training, and training during the summer. He has found the routine helps him be productive in all areas of his life, and he has found family among his teammates.
“Even though we all have our little training groups for events, it’s just like a family,” says Jensen. “You train with them and get really close to them. They become your best friends, and they help pull you through the hard days.”
Off the track, Jensen was a biology major and with a minor in human development. He was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, helping to represent 20 varsity athletic teams and foster communication between student-athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators to promote growth and education through participation in intercollegiate athletics. Jensen also volunteered with student-athletes from area schools in the annual Section V Leadership Summit for high-schoolers.
This fall, Jensen will pursue an advanced degree at Nazareth College with plans to become a biology teacher—and he intends to coach or volunteer for a new generation of student-athletes.