JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Andrew Jackson Tigers track and field team is having a ton of success this season.
“A lot of people overlook Andrew Jackson track,” Jackson senior track and field athlete Nieko Garnes said. “Thanks to our coaches, coach Kevin, coach Ed, and coach Tasha, that we’re allowed to be on this big stage and do these great things.”
Overlooked no more, Garnes isn’t just catching the attention of other area teams; he’s making a statement around the country.
“It feels like a dream, but my whole goal this year was to go U.S. #1 and show the world what I’m capable of,” Garnes said.
Garnes currently holds the U.S. #1 time for the 400m hurdles. Clocking in at 52.67 seconds, which he ran at the Sam Burley Hall of Fame Invitational in Miami in February.
“He does the work, and now it’s starting to pay off for him, so really proud of that,” Jackson assistant coach Kevin Davis.
Now, Garnes has set a new goal. He wants to break the U.S. 400m hurdle record time of 49.7 seconds.
“It’s extremely hard to get to that point and to maintain it because everybody is coming for you,” Davis said. “You have a target on your back and so the training has to increase, the mindset has to increase, the confidence has to increase, the work ethic has to increase, and he’s got it all. He’s got the total package.”
Garnes added the 400m hurdles victory to his resume at the Bob Hayes Invitational this season as well.
“It was a great moment because the year before that I lost,” Garnes said. “I got second place. It felt great breaking that meet record and going first place knowing how much work I put into it.”
Garnes got into track and field because of his younger sister, Nijah, but it was Garnes who convinced his sister to start competing in hurdles.
“It means a lot to me because I look up to him so he’s kind of my only idol,” Nijah Garnes said.
This is Nijah Garnes’ first season running track with her brother at Jackson. She already has dropped over 8 seconds in the 400m hurdles this season and placed fourth in the event at the Bob Hayes.
“Nijah works really, really hard and when she studied what Nieko does, she developed as her own athlete and come into her own person to be a phenomenal athlete,” Jackson head coach Ed Ford said.
The Garnes’ are just two of the athletes that make up the Tigers successful track team this season.
“Even with hard practices, there may be some complaining, but we come out here and we do what needs to be done,” Nieko Garnes said. “I’m proud of this team. This is the greatest team that Jackson’s had in a minute.”