Senior sprinter Natashia Jackson hadn’t stepped competitively on a track in more than a year dating back to the 2020 Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
But that didn’t matter as Jackson nearly set a personal record in the 100 meters, earning her the league’s Female Runner of the Week honor.
Her 11.76 in Saturday’s prelims of the UT Tyler Classic rank third in the nation, and the Houston native followed that with an 11.83 in the finals.
Teammate Lynell Washington wasn’t far behind with an 11.90, which ranks sixth nationally.
“Having these national marks is motivation for us, and it’s rewarding,” said Jackson, who didn’t have remaining eligibility in the indoor season. “We’re doing something right, and when it comes down to competing against the best in the nation, we know we can compete. It gives us the hunger to keep going.”
But more than the national time, Jackson is just excited to be competing on a track with the NSU emblazoned across her chest.
“It was an honor to come back and represent Northwestern State,” said Jackson, who has won 16 gold medals at SLC championships in her career. “I love that I could come back and compete in an event that I’m not used to competing in.
“It was fun, and I think we’re going to have a great season.”