Men's Track and Field adds Taylor's Mark Jackson to 2010-11 signing class
April 6, 2010
Taylor (TX) H.S. jumper Mark Jackson signed a National Letter of Intent to join Texas men's track and field's 2010-11 signing class, head coach Bubba Thornton announced on Tuesday. He becomes the 12th member of UT's class for 2010-11. Jackson was recently named the Most Outstanding Male Athlete at the 83rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays after winning both the long and triple jumps. A three-sport standout, Jackson set a Texas Relays record in the triple jump with a leap of 50-6. That jump, combined with his mark of 50-9 from earlier in the outdoor season, are the top two marks in the nation and are almost two feet better than the next-best mark. Jackson also won the long jump after posting a 24-8.25. That mark is the national leader by almost 5.25 inches. He also ran in the prelims of the 100 meters and qualified third with a 10.87 before deciding not to run in the finals. Earlier this season, Jackson won the high school national championship in the triple jump at the Nike Indoor Nationals with a leap of 51-11. The 51-11 set a meet record by over five inches and was just 8.5 inches short of the national record, which was set in 1988 by Keith Holley of Virginia Beach, Va. Last season as a junior, Jackson won the Texas 3A state title in the triple jump with a mark of 49-10.75 and finished seventh in the high jump with a 6-4 clearance. He also won the region triple jump title (50-6.50) and finished second in the high jump (6-4). At the district meet, Jackson won the triple jump (49-7) and high jump (6-4) and helped the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400-meter relays to victories. As a sophomore, Jackson claimed runner-up honors in the triple jump at the Texas 3A state meet with a mark of 49-5 after winning the regional title with a 48-7. He won district titles in the triple jump (47-7), high jump (6-2) and 100 meters (11.04), led the 4x400-meter relay to victory and placed second in the 200 meters (22.37).
In addition to his work in track and field, Jackson is also a letterman in basketball and football. An all-region and two-time all-district selection and the district Offensive MVP as a junior, Jackson averaged 20.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game as a senior on the hardwood. On the gridiron, Jackson claimed all-district honors in 2008 at running back and defensive back. |
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