JACKSON ON THE TRACK
Jackson has one more shot at overtaking the California championships.
Photo by Craig Morley
He could have pouted. He could have sulked. Instead, Jackson kept focus of a bigger prize and he more than got even.
The defending state champion and national leader in the long jump was
edged in his specialty at the California State championships. Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) junior Nate Moore jumped 24 feet, 11.75 inches to Jackson’s 24-7.25.
Jackson was disappointed, but on the podium, he patted Moore on the back and congratulated him. Jackson had bigger fish to fry.
He ran two tremendous legs in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays to lead the Cavaliers to winning marks of 40.49 seconds and 3:10.59, respectively. The 4x400 time was the best in the nation for 2013 and the 4x100 was second-best.
Jackson is likely to give up basketball for track.
Photo by Craig Morley
Those two wins plus Jackson’s second-place finish carried Serra to the team title, its second in school history. The year before, Jackson won the long jump at 25-0 but his team sustained a bitter two-point loss.
Jackson, considered a true team player, preferred the 2013 result to 2012 even though he didn’t receive a personal gold.
“This was about the team and we left it all on the track,” he said. “We made a statement and left everyone feeling good.”
Jackson said his goal is to improve his personal best in the long jump to 26-0 by next year. With his speed — his best marks in the 100 and 200 were 10.68 and 21.59 — and vertical lift, no one would bet against him.
He’ll likely give up basketball to focus on track, though he was a big contributor to the basketball team’s 26-7 mark.
The Cavaliers are always in the state-title hunt. Seemingly, in all sports.
Smith-Thompson believes Jackson’s potential is limitless, especially with more track and field training.
“He’s just a great kid to coach in all regards,” he said.
