BOSTON — Truth be told, Alex Jackson was in a league of his own at Saturday’s MIAA Meet of Champions at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.
Already a winner in the shot put with a solid throw of 58-03, Jackson doubled up with a gold in the weight throw with yet another PR, 67-11. The heave broke three records – the Peabody High record, the meet record and the state record. Saturday marked the second time in the last week that Jackson set a meet record.
But it was the way he did it that turned heads, helped in part by a last-minute gamble by the coaching staff that paid off in a big way.
Just Wednesday, Jackson shattered his weight throw PR by more than four feet with a 61-07 throw. Saturday, he broke it again in just his first throw of 62-08. His second throw was even better and another PR – 65-11.5.
It was then that the Tanners’ coaches learned that Jackson was mere inches away from breaking the state record of 66-02.
After a sector foul on his third attempt, estimated by throw coach Jay Smith to be in the 68-foot range, Jackson got right back to business on his fourth, toppling the state mark and improving his PR by nearly two feet with a throw of 67-11.
“Normally, I wouldn’t tell anyone because we don’t chase marks because we can’t control the mark, only what we can do in the circle,” Smith said. “But Alex was so connected today and felt so good and was totally in charge, so we took a chance and I told him. Obviously, it paid off handsomely. He really went after it on the fourth throw.”
Smith said Jackson now ranks No. 2 in the nation among juniors in both events as well as No. 1 overall in the weight throw and No. 13 overall in the shot put. He said Jackson left nothing to chance, winning both events on his first attempts.
Peabody head coach Fernando Braz said Jackson’s progression in both the shot put and weight throw is “impressive” and listening to both Alex and coach Smith talk about the execution after each throw and where there are things to improve going forward “is exciting and educational.”
When asked if he had ever seen anything like Jackson’s meteoric rise, Smith, now in his 43rd season coaching track, said, “the answer to that question is a definitive no.” Smith is confident that the success Jackson has seen over the winter will continue – and perhaps be even better – in the spring.
“What we’ve seen with Alex, especially in the weight throw, is rare,” Smith said. “But I’ve said for a while that his best event may end up being the hammer throw, which is an exciting proposition. Today’s results reinforce that view. We’ll know more this spring.”
Before then, however, Smith said there is more work to be done on the indoor scene over the next few weeks. This week the focus will be on the shot put to prepare for the New England Championships at RLTAC. The following weekend, Jackson will compete in the national championship division of the weight and shot at the Nike Indoor Nationals at The Armory in New York City. Then it’s a quick trip back to Boston to compete in the shot put at the New Balance Nationals at RLTAC and The Track at New Balance.
“Today was a big day, but we have two big weeks ahead of us before we close the indoor season,” Smith said.
Head track coach Fernando Braz said he was pleased with all of the Tanners who competed, noting that every one of them finished in the top-20.
Koby Avery, Eli Batista, Abou Kaba and Doryln Morel finished 12th in the 4×200 relay (1:33.04). Evan Bedard set a PR (20-04) in the long jump and finished 14th, while Alessanda Forgione finished 15th in the girls weight throw (24-06).
“The 4×200 boys were seeded 20th so they really competed well,” Braz said. “It was also another opportunity to work on exchanges leading up to nationals in March.”
