NJ’s fastest girl, Jada Ellis, running off to Maryland after persisting as Manchester HS sprinter
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (BVM) — New Jersey’s fastest high school female, Jada Ellis, will soon make the move to join the women’s track and field team at the University of Maryland. The Manchester Township High School Class of 2021 graduate should be an impressive addition to the team, considering the drive that she has to persist even after doctors and peers didn’t think she could succeed.
At the 2020 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Meet of Champions, Ellis came in third place in the 55-meter dash after clocking a time of 7.13. Lauren Princz of Egg Harbor Township High School finished in first place that year and the two didn’t race each other again until the recent showdown one year later at the 2021 NJSIAA State Outdoor Meet of Champions on June 19. Ellis, after clocking a time of 11.57, won first place in the state for the 100m after beating out her best competition.
“All week I was hearing about that upcoming showdown between me and Lauren Princz for the Meet of Champs, even at the starting line, but I didn’t let it get to me,” Ellis said. “I knew God was going to blow my mind. When I crossed that finish line I couldn’t even process that I did it. I beat New Jersey’s favorite and top runner, proved the announcer wrong and shocked many other people.”
Ellis came into the Meet of Champions as an underdog, yet ultimately set a Shore Conference record and ran the third-fastest fully automatic time (FAT) ever run in New Jersey. She also set a personal record which is a huge improvement from what she was running a few weeks back. At the Shore Conference Championships on May 22, Ellis ran a 12.22 in the finals. Meaning in just four weeks, Ellis ultimately improved her 100m time by over 1.30 seconds — a feat many athletes don’t accomplish all season long.
Jada Ellis wins the M.O.C. 100m final in school record time 11.57. Fastest in New Jersey. Sami Gravatt takes 4th and Sheridan Martinez takes 5th in the Javelin. Great day to be a Hawk! Happy to be there. Wait for it!!! @ShoreSportsNet @APPSportsDesk pic.twitter.com/MvwqVk5AkO
— Manchester Twp. H.S. Sports Updates (@MTHS_Sports) June 19, 2021
“Being coached by Emmanuel Mayers was definitely key during those few weeks leading up to the Meet of Champions because he understood exactly what needed to be changed,” Ellis said. “By the power of God and my coach’s training, I was able to run my best race yet.”
With a successful end to her high school career, Ellis is set to join the Terrapins for the 2021-22 season.
“With the pandemic limiting my options to compete it was very hard to get times in for my winter season,” Ellis said. “The head coach at Maryland, Andrew Valmon, showed interest in me that no other collegiate coach had and on top of that he knew my potential and believed in me.”
Valmon is a Manchester Township HS graduate who later earned two Olympic gold medals in the 4×400-meter relay. Ellis is actually the first Manchester athlete to ever win any event at the Meet of Champions — meaning that even Valmon never reached such a feat.
But, history almost didn’t play out like this for Ellis. She mentioned that she wasn’t happy with the way she was performing during the start to the 2021 season.
“I was so disappointed that I had wanted to call it quits and give up, until one day five people messaged me saying how much of an inspiration I’ve been to them,” Ellis said. “When I show up on the track I don’t look like your average sprinter. I may be small, but I am mighty so when I’m out there competing, I want to show people that it’s possible for someone like me to do great things even if you have to wait to see it for yourself.”
On top of not looking the part physically, Ellis almost ended her career entirely during her sophomore season after a knee injury.
“My coach signed me up for a meet that had better competition for me and he wanted to train one-on-one with me to prepare for it,” Ellis said. “I came around the turn close to my top speed, until suddenly my knee buckled, I heard a crack and I hit the ground in pain.”
Ellis said that what should have been a three-day recovery turned into seven weeks of pain on crutches. The doctors told her that her track career could be over since she sprained her ACL and dislocated her kneecap.
“Then the rumors started as random people, coaches, classmates, even teammates were talking about how I would never be able to run again, break another record or be the fastest at anything,” Ellis said. “But, I knew God had more in store for me and this was just the enemy’s way of trying to stop me from doing great things.”
After two months, Ellis said she returned to the track, but often couldn’t even finish small workouts. She noted that people were telling her to quit running, but that only ignited something within her.
During that 2019 season, Ellis went on to break three school records, win seven back-to-back gold medals in the 100m and 200-meter dash at championship meets and qualified for the 2019 New Balance Nationals meet in North Carolina.
“After all my achievements, the people who spread rumors about me were amazed,” Ellis said. “Instead of going to their faces and saying I told you so, I said, ‘Thank you, thank you for pushing me to perform at my highest potential.’ I’m forever grateful that the injury happened because it not only encouraged me, but others that they can do the same.”
With persistence being her middle name, Ellis might surprise some more people while running at Maryland.
“Once I start competing for Maryland I hope to work my way up to the top and become their fastest sprinter,” Ellis said. “Competing at the DI collegiate level is a whole new world compared to high school, but my goal is to make it to the NCAA Championships.”
Ellis mentioned she is considering going pro as well, but she’ll also put heavy focus into getting an engineering degree.
