CHARLESTON — After winning the 200 meter dash, Danville High School junior D’Mario Jackson held up a sign saying “God Given” along with his winner’s plaque and medal.
To understand the sign, one must understand how Jackson used his gifts on Saturday, winning the 100 and 200 dashes and the 400 run in the IHSA Class 2A state championship meet.
Jackson won the 100 (10.59 seconds), the 200 (21.33) and 400 (47.53) for the Vikings to become the first athlete in school history to win the triple and the first in Class 2A. He is only the fifth athlete to win three track titles in a state meet.
“We had to do a lot of recovery going into the 200,” Jackson said. “I had to keep my blood going, but it was God who made me able to run another race and win.
“I don’t think we had an athlete win three for Danville and I am glad to bring that history here. I love it here and I am glad to bring some plaques and medals.”
Jackson started with the 100, a very competitive race which saw him edge out East St. Louis’ Myron Johnson-Cook.
“We had some great competition going into it,” Jackson said about the 100. “Everyone had pretty strong starts there, It came down to who had that second or third gear and I’m glad I had that.”
Jackson had a personal best in the 400, but had about 30 or so minutes to get ready for the 200.
“I didn’t feel pressure mentally, but physically I felt it,” Jackson said. “I stood strong, kept being motivated and did not doubt myself even when you feel you can’t run anymore.”
“He had a nice PR, but I said recovery was the name of the game,” Danville head coach Tyler Arholt said. “He took care of his body and took care of business and that’s all you can do. This was awesome.”
With this accomplishment done, Jackson is hoping for more history for his senior year.
“I am looking forward to it,” Jackson said about the prospect of repeating the triple. “It would be a good way to end my career if we can do it again.”
Jackson was not the only Viking in action in Class 2A. Senior Victor Jones was in the high jump and while he didn’t get past the second height of 1.90, Arhnolt was pleased with the process of Jones’ career.
“He made finals, passed the bar, cleared the bar and missed a bar and that’s how it works out sometimes. But he had never made a final and never cleared a bar but he did it and I am proud of him. I am excited for D’Mario and to see Allante come back with the other kids that were part of the relays and we want more kids coming in next year and that’s the goal for both teams.
Jackson’s triple ended two strong weekends for the Danville track team after the girls team took second in Class 2A.
“The girls team did great and the boys did great too, but there were some injuries,” Arnholt said. “We had a great team, we had a lot of fun and we were pumped.”
The rest of the county’s best participated in the Class 1A meet. For the second straight year, Salt Fork’s Maddax Stine had to settle for second in discus with a attempt of 49.78m, which was behind Dwight’s Graham Meister’s 51.10m.
“It stings a bit,” Stine said. “Second place was not was I looking for. It was a shock, I came in and I had high hopes. Graham is a great thrower and it happens.
“I was looking to complete that 123 podium finish and I wasn’t looking to get second again, but I am blessed to be in this position again and get another medal.”
Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman’s William Runyan also finished second in the long jump with an attempt of 1.99m, only behind Flora’s Kehlin Crawford’s 2.02m.
I think I could have fought for first, but I hit the bar. But I am happy with second,” Runyan said. “I have been trying to prove myself and going for a scholarship. I want to go to Eastern, but whatever school gets me, gets me. I am thankful for my parents and my coach to come here and work my butt off to get second.”
Another local second place finisher was Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin’s 400 relay team. The Blue Devils’ time of 42.59 was only ousted by Morrison’s 41.88, which was a new state record.
“Before this year, no one saw us coming and we were the underdogs all season and it took being dedicated and not freaking out in the big moments and staying consistent,” BHRA anchor leg Gavin High said. “Nobody sees us coming and we beat them all the time. It was a crazy ride, I would not have wanted to do with three other people. I love my guys.”
Westville’s Easton Bolin in the long jump with a jump of 6.95m and BHRA’s Conner Powell in the shot put in a an attempt of 16.61m each ended up fifth.
“It took a lot of work, a lot of practice, a lot of time in the weight room and my focus has been perfect for the season,” Powell said. “I won county, conference and sectional and I was fourth in sectional last year and made it to state, but I had a lot better outcome this year and a lot more work with our coaches worked.”
“It feels great to come out here and place this season,” Bolin said. “I was consistent and I just worked on being more explosive and when you are more explosive, you jump higher.”
The same 400 relay team for BHRA was fifth in the 800 in 1:29.32, while Oakwood’s Lucas Tyas was eighth in the 400 (50.72), Salt Fork’s Xander Swanson was eighth in the 110 hurdles (15.05), Salt Fork’s Eli Reffett was ninth in the 110 hurdles (17.49), Hoopeston Area’s Owen Garrett was 32nd in the 3,200 (10:37) and GRFC’s Aidan Morgan was 38th in the 3,200 (10:50).