Selina Burton-Bennett certainly had — as the saying goes — some “serious hops.” In the early 1990s, the future WIAA Hall of Famer propelled herself off the long and triple jump takeoff planks at Renton Memorial Stadium like tightly packed springboards. By the end of her four years at Hazen High School, she had soared to four individual 2A State Titles — two in the triple jump and two in the long jump.

Claiming the top spot on the podium in the long jump, triple jump, and 100m dash, Burton-Bennett paved the way for a first-place Hazen High School finish in the 1993 Sea-King District Track meet. But while track was her main claim to fame, she was far from a one-sport standout. In the winter seasons, she took off the track cleats and replaced them with sneakers, starring as the point guard on the Hazen basketball team.

By the end of Burton-Bennett’s high school career, she received abundant attention from collegiate scouts. After graduation, she took her talents across the country on a full-ride scholarship to compete in track and field with the South Carolina State Bulldogs. From there, she further cemented her legacy, representing her home state in both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Since her days at Hazen High, former coaches and administrators have cited Burton-Bennett as one of the finest individuals to come out of the state of Washington. Outside of sports, the triple jump legend has always been eager to lend a helping hand to youth in her community, starting with her services to the Rainier Beach AAU Track Club during summers in high school. To this day, she continues to impact youth communities. The former track standout now lives in El Paso, Texas, working as a member of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). As Master Parent Educator, Burton-Bennett equips the parents of military children with the capacity to effectively advocate for their kids’ educational needs.

From the triple jump pit to the classroom, Selina Burton-Bennett has always reflected the core values of sport that the WIAA strives to embrace — and now she spends her time extending those values to young people throughout the U.S.