When Derek Jennings and his sister, Priscilla, were younger, the siblings would run from their home on Oak Bottom Road to their grandmother's house near The Buck with their mother, Teresa, trailing in the family van. More than 25 years later, Derek and Priscilla followed in the family footsteps by joining their parents in an exclusive club. Derek Jennings and Priscilla Jennings Landis were each inducted into the Solanco Cross Country Hall of Fame during the program's end of season banquet. Derek was a four-time Lancaster-Lebanon League medalist and four-time state qualifier, placing as high as 11th at the PIAA meet. He was part of the Mules' 2000 undefeated boys team which won the Lancaster-Lebanon League and ended Manheim Township's 77-meet win streak and a member of the undefeated 2012 team which won the L-L meet. "Having dad and mom in the hall of fame was something that meant a lot so it was always something in the back of my mind," Derek said. "When I got the message, it meant a lot. I didn't know that they had brought the hall of fame back so when I got the email I was really excited." Priscilla was also a four-time league medalist and four-time state qualifier and led the 2004 team to an undefeated season and Lancaster-Lebanon League title. Landis holds 10 track and field records at Millersville University where she was a five-time All-American in cross country and track. She was inducted into the Millersville Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. "It was special just being back at Solanco again, and seeing the new teams there." Priscilla said. "It's a big honor. It's a special sport and we had a special team bond. Being a part of teams at Solanco and Millersville was such a blessing. Looking back, it's so special to be a part of a team. I had so much fun, some of my best memories. I had great coaches who helped me succeed in running and reach goals I didn't think possible." Family patriarch Dan Jennings graduated from Solanco in 1984. He won the league cross country title in 1983. As a sophomore he teamed with his twin brother, Dale, and Mike Deberdine and Jim Riley to win the 3200 meter relay at the league track and field meet. That quartet still holds the Solanco record in that event. Dan's wife and the siblings' mother, Teresa Rhodes Jennings, a 1983 Solanco grad, won several league and district medals for the Mules. The secret to the Jennings family's success? "I think if you heard someone describe running, the last thing they would say is it's easy," Derek said. "[The other family members] may differ, but if you're asking me, I would say hard work and stubborness. Every Jennings is stubborn. A sport like running is challenging and you've got to be stubborn." Dan and Teresa have four children – Derek, Priscilla, Rachelle, and Dexter. (Rachelle was a contributing member of the Mules' cross country league title team along with Priscilla, and is still running road races. Dexter played football at Solanco.) The family spent many Saturdays running together. "It kind of naturally happened," said Priscilla. "[My parents] were running road races. We all just joined in." Said Dan: "I guess we didn't know anything else." Derek participated in races all over the country, finishing third in the 13-14 age group at one national race. "We wanted to encourage them to do something positive with their lives and not just waste it, especially their high school years and their middle school years," Teresa said. Derek is a social studies teacher at McCaskey where he coaches cross country and track and field. He also partnered with the Lancaster Police Athletic League in 2013 to form the Lancaster City Track Club. Priscilla is married to Brent Landis, a high school teammate of Derek. They reside on the Landis family farm and have three children. Dan Jennings is proud of his kids' accomplishments in athletics and afterwards. "It meant a lot to see Derek and Priscilla inducted into the hall of fame," Dan said. "I remember when Priscilla ran in high school and she was the leader of the team, that team wouldn't have been the team it was if it weren't for her. She'd call them up and make sure they ran. Then she went on to college and became an All-American. We got to travel and see her run there. Then Derek started this running club, helping kids. That's what matters to me a lot. He influences the kids." Comments are closed.
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