Jackson wins 110 title
By LANCE CRANMER
Gazette Sports Writer
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COLUMBUS - There apparently is something to that whole 'third time's a charm' thing.
After placing third as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore in the Division II 110-meter hurdles, Danté Jackson is now a state champion.
Once you've done something a few times, though, the outlook - as well as the results - tend to be a little different. "For the 110s, I won," the McClain junior said Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. "That's No. 1 how it's different."
Jackson fended off Columbus Eastmoor's Gary Sims, running a 14.06 to Sims' 14.19 to capture the first track and field title in the history of McClain High School.
"Winning our school's first-ever state championship is something that I'll never forget," Jackson said. "It's unbelievable. It's just great."
Jackson got a scare at the race's start when the false start gun fired.
Though he was safe, one of his strongest competitors, Aaron Roberts of Heath, was disqualified for jumping the gun.
"That happens, man," Jackson said. "We both were trying to jump the gun a little bit. When I leaned forward and then leaned back, he leaned forward and they popped the gun twice on him and not me."
Still, Roberts' qualifying time of 14.78 was nowhere near Jackson's 14.06.
As a freshman, Jackson ran a 14.46 in the 110s. Last year he ran a 14.61.
"This is my third year," he said. "You just know that you have to run. You run hard, relax and you have a shot to do something special."
Jackson nearly made his day doubly special in the 300 hurdles.
Last year Jackson finished third in the state in the 300 - usually his strongest event - and this time he took the top qualifying time into Saturday's finals.
But just like he did as a sophomore, Jackson ran into early problems in the title race.
"The first hurdle I was relaxed and was in stride," he said. "The second and third ones were just like, what the heck? I wasn't in stride and I just kind of jumped over them. That kind of took some time away there."
On the second hurdle, Jackson shuffled his steps before jumping and catching a foot. He stumbled as he landed his jump and nearly fell.
"I have no idea," Jackson said of what caused the misstep. "Last year it was the same hurdle that was my nemesis. I don't know. It's a story untold."
Jackson regained his composure, after nipping the third hurdle on the way over, and powered his way back through the field to finish second behind Roberts.
The stumble cost Jackson some time as he finished at 38.30, just behind Roberts' 37.92. "I'm happy with the place. I'm just not happy with the time," Jackson said. "You'll have that. I'll take second for now I guess, if I have to. Next year hopefully it will be different."
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