Brentwood's Jett Kinder goes from 'Faces in the Crowd' to multi-time state champion

MURFREESBORO — Jett Kinder grew up reading Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd," a segment in the magazine that highlighted achievements of athletes around the country.

The Brentwood High junior track standout recently appeared when he was recognized for winning the pentathlon at the New Balance Nationals Indoor with 3,673 points

"I didn't even see it because we don't get Sports Illustrated," Kinder said. "My friend's dad saw it and asked, 'Have you seen this?'

"We have a couple copies now."

Kinder said growing up he typically read Sports Illustrated because his grandfather would drop a copy off at their Williamson County home. 

"To be in it myself is pretty cool," said Kinder, who is the son of 1988 Olympic decathlete Gary Kinder. "That was probably one of the best achievements I've ever had. That was so cool."

Kinder is a nominee for The Tennessean boys track and field athlete of the year. He has won the award the past two years.

Kinder won the TSSAA Large Class state decathlon last week with 7,077 points. It's his second straight decathlon state title. 

He followed that up with a state title in the pole vault, clearing 15 feet. He placed second in the triple jump (44-11.5) behind teammate Avery Williams (47-1.5).

He was fourth in the high jump (6-6) and fifth in the long jump (22-1).

"I had maybe 50 jumps today," Kinder said. "My legs are absolutely dead. This is the hardest it's ever been."

Kinder said the pole vault took a lot of the energy from him. 

"The pole vault is by far the hardest event," Kinder said. "Everything has to come together — the 12 steps, then you have to plan, then you have to swing, then you have to pull.

"Every jump is an excess of energy. I was dead after that and that was literally my second thing."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.