Former Muldrow Bulldog and current Emporia State University Hornet high jumper Trenden Collins is pretty pumped about getting to perform at the greatest stage there is — the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track Championship, which will take place Thursday through Saturday at Emporia State’s Welch Stadium.
“I was very excited,” Collins said when he got the news he had made the cut to make it to the national meet. “I went through indoor season not making it (the NCAA Division II Championships). I wanted to prove to myself that I’m one of those top athletes. I went through the outdoor season, and I finally made it. I’m looking forward to it.” Collins is even more excited that the national meet is happening in his own backyard.
“I don’t have to wake up so early in the morning to get on the bus and take a long travel, so it’s a blessing for it to be here at Emporia,” he said.
Collins admitted that the track scene at the high school level and the collegiate level is quite different.
“It’s completely different from being in Muldrow and Emporia,” the former Bulldog said. “I’m ready to compete. I’m sure all of Muldrow is rooting for me. I’m going to go out there and do all I can do.”
So far this season, Collins’ personal best (PR) mark is 7-0, or 2.14 meters. He said he’s getting used to colleges using the metric system, unlike the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association that uses feet and inches in distances in high school track meets.
“I’ve been trying to work my way over (convert) to that, too,” he said.
Collins, a freshman for the Hornets, also played wide receiver on the Emporia State football team, where he teamed with fellow former Muldrow Bulldog quarterback Braden Gleason. The Hornets went 9-3 and routed Southern Nazarene 5524 to win the Heritage Bowl, which took place last December in Corsicana, Texas. For the season, Collins hauled in 42 passes for 396 yards and six touchdowns. The ESU freshman believes football has had a hand in helping him to the track success he’s enjoyed this spring.
“I think just being able to stay motivated has definitely helped me grow as a player and as a track athlete,” Col-lins said. “I just feel that being motivated and sticking to it has definitely helped me in both sports.”
Collins is not quite sure just how he would be feeling at the end of Saturday if he is the national champion high jumper.
“There won’t be any words at all,” he said. “There will be joy and excitement. It would be crazy.”
However, if the national title eludes him, there are still some secondary goals he would like to achieve at this weekend’s national meet.
“My goal every meet is to just PR (get a personal best),” Collins said. “I want to be more consistent throughout my approach and being able to replicate the same thing over and over again so I can be more consistent.”
