The Hive Sports

by James Tate

Farmington High School senior Bode Jensen can easily be found on the track. He wears high black socks and dark glasses and is, above all, very fast around the track. Jensen, a 400m state finalist in 2023, is set on being a force in other sprint events this season. Already the school record holder in the 400m, with a time of 48.92, Jensen accepts the challenge of claiming the school top marks in the 100m and 200m events.

2023 state finalist

Jensen turned the corner in the 400m event last season at the Davis Invitational Meet by breaking the 50-second mark with a time of 49.89. Finishing fifth in the event, Jensen would come close in other meets but not go under 50 seconds until the state championship meet. Jensen ran a 49.52 in the prelims and qualified for the finals, where he would run a personal best of 48.92 and finish fifth.

“Last year’s 400m state final was an excellent learning and growth experience where I taught myself to get out fast, stay fast, and not allow myself to slow down,” Jensen said. “I tensed up a bit in the final 100 meters but since then I’ve taught myself to open up and stay fast and relaxed.”

The return to the state finals will be challenging, with four of the nine finalists returning this season and a new group ready to step up. Nik Larsen of Weber High School is one runner to watch who is in Region 1 with Jensen. Larsen and Jensen battled in the 2024 Farmington Super Meet, with Jensen winning in a time of 49.01 and Larsen second in 49.08.

This season, Jensen has been named a team captain and takes that honor and responsibility to heart as he knows others watch him and see how he prepares and carries himself on and off the track.

“As a team captain, I aim to demonstrate and promote hard work and consistency,” Jensen said. “I help others work towards their goals by offering advice, especially that of the mental side of racing, that I try to utilize myself when I race. You only achieve great things when you push yourself to great lengths and I try to do as much as I can to help my teammates be the best they can and avoid mistakes that I’ve made.”

Behind the sunglasses

Jensen wears sunglasses to help with his eye’s sensitivity to sunlight and nearsightedness. Like with many sports, having excellent vision is vital to success and the ability to perform at your best in track and field.

“I primarily wear sunglasses for two reasons: first, I’m nearsighted and require prescription lenses to see clearly, and it gets pretty hard to see when I race without them,” Jensen said. “Second, my sensitivity to sunlight causes quite a bit of discomfort when I’m without them. I first raced with sunglasses midway through my sophomore season when I forgot to take them off before a 4×400 race and realized how much better my eyes and head felt during and after my race.”

The art of running fast started early for Jensen, who recognized his talents in elementary school and continued to improve throughout his junior and high school years. Jensen continues to learn and challenge himself by working hard and understanding the mental approach to each race.

“I have always known I was fast, and I would consistently put my speed to work in my childhood during elementary recess, and other times I would play,” Jensen said. “I attended a few track camps hosted by Davis High, and those were my first exposure to racing on a track. I joined the Centennial Jr. High track team in my seventh grade year and chose the 400m dash as my event because it’s what my grandpa raced in high school and college. By the time my ninth grade year ended, I had won the district championship in the 400m dash. After I had made it to state my sophomore year, I became fully dedicated to being the best I can in the sport.”

Senior season

Jensen’s senior year began with a significant improvement during the indoor season. These indoor events are substantial in helping high school track and field athletes prepare for the outdoor season faster, physically and mentally.

“I raced at the Kearns Olympic Oval a couple of times,” Jensen said. I also competed at Simplot, running the 400m leg in a sprint medley and racing the open 400, where I got second place in the finals. Those early races helped me prepare my mind and body for the outdoor season and allowed me to practice more mental aspects of racing the 400.”

After crossing the line in 54.34 in the 400m at the Simplot Games last year, Jensen improved by an incredible five seconds in 49.43. Jensen is on track to be one of the state’s best again, leading the Phoenix to challenge for the region championship.

“My main goal this year is to perform to my very best ability in what I do,” Jensen said. “I hope to break under 48 seconds in the 400 and earn a state champion title.

Family and track

Jensen isn’t the only member of his family who has excelled on the track; his mom was an excellent track athlete, and his grandpa ran the 400m.

“I garner support from nearly everyone I know. My coaches have been great at helping me improve my performance and skills,” Jensen said. “All my friends and teammates are incredibly supportive, cheering me on and helping me drive myself forward on and off the track. My family, of course, has also been very helpful to me with all their support. I also got a lot of help and wisdom from my grandpa, who ran the 400 in high school and college to very successful lengths. However, there is still much more I can do, and with the support of everyone who has given it, I can push myself to grow and achieve much greater things.”

The joy of running track and the friendships Jensen has made are lifelong and something he does not take for granted.

“I’ve always enjoyed running fast, and the thrill of racing has always appealed to me,” Jensen said. “I also love the social aspect of track and field and the countless friendships and connections I have made through it. Almost all the people I have met through this sport have been very friendly, and I genuinely enjoy every interaction with those I race against.”

Jensen has a bright future with many opportunities that he hopes will include running track at the next level. The right mental approach and the ability to get stronger and faster make Jensen a top-track college recruit in the state. Being an established photographer is also something that Jensen loves to pursue when he is away from the track.

“I want to run in college and get the best scholarship from the best school I can,” Jensen said. “I have yet to sign on to any school, but I plan to make that decision sometime after the state championship meets. I want to go to a good university with an excellent track program and the resources and environment to enjoy my entire college experience and build my best future. In addition to track and field, I am a passionate photographer with my own business. I love capturing life, nature, and the beauty that can be found in the world, and I love to share that with others. I also like milkshakes.”

photos courtesy James Tate