Swimming's Jenna Long 2010 Recipient of Chico Award
6/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
June 10, 2010
Miami University women's swimmer Jenna Long (Yorktown, Indiana) is the 2010 recipient of the Robin Chico Award, a special recognition coach's award presented to a RedHawk graduating senior.
Uniquely stipulated, the Chico Award is not given on an annual basis, but bestowed when the head coach recognizes a special individual who demonstrates extraordinary achievements through compelling adversity throughout her career.
Miami head coach Dave Jennings praised Long for her career-long contributions to the team.
"Jenna Long was given this award because she handled adversity well and was an excellent team member throughout her four years of competition at Miami," said Jennings. "She handled tough decisions from the coaching staff with courage and was someone who always looked at the bright side of things. Jenna is what Miami swimming and diving is all about."
Long, a sprinter in the freestyle and butterfly events, was a four-time letter winner for the RedHawks.
ABOUT ROBIN CHICO AND THE ROBIN CHICO AWARD
This award will be presented by the Head Coach as he/she would come to recognize an individual from time to time who has made achievements at the highest levels through determination and extraordinary challenges during her time on the Miami Women's Swimming and Diving Team. In addition, this honor comes with a stipend for graduate studies.
Through the commitment and dedication to her sport during the early setbacks of Title IX, ROBIN CHICO established an extraordinary standard of excellence while competing for Miami University's Swimming and Diving Program. Along with five teammates in 1975, she qualified for Collegiate Nationals.
Demonstrating the unfairness of the times, the University refused to send these highly qualified Women Swimmers and Divers to Nationals. Despite this occurrence, Robin continued to compete for Miami during the next three years setting school records in the 100 yard butterfly, 200 yard butterfly, 200 yard and 400 yard individual medley, 200 yard freestyle, 1000 yard freestyle, 1650 yard freestyle, as well as being a member of all five school record setting relays. Throughout her career, Robin qualified for nationals in no less than 12 events. All this was accomplished after the 1975 season when she was seeded SECOND IN THE COUNTRY in the 100 yard butterfly and not given the opportunity to compete her freshman year. It is important to note that her seed time ended up being the third fastest time at the 1975 National Collegiate Meet. A chance at competing for a national championship as well as becoming an all-american representing Miami was denied by the University. Robin, however, continued to compete and was undefeated in every dual meet home and away in every individual swimming event she swam which included competition among five Big Ten teams. In addition, she was conference champion in every individual conference event she entered throughout her four years. She was awarded the first conference recognized Swimmer of the Meet Award her senior year as well as receiving the initial Outstanding Senior Award that same year - 1978. After graduation, Robin obtained her masters degree in public health from the University of Michigan. Currently, she is a registered dietician with the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. On February 2, 1991, Miami University honored Robin Chico with her induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Alumni, friends, and family of the Miami University Swimming and Diving Team interested in making a contribution to this award or other programs may contact Coach Dave Jennings at 513-529-8153 or jenninda@muohio.edu. Miami University welcomes your interest and support.
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Players Mentioned
