Full U.S. Paralympic Championship Results
Hillside Senior Desmond Jackson took home the Gold Medal for the T-42 classification in the 100m Dash last weekend at the U.S. Paralympic Championships clocking 12.79 winning by .19 seconds. You've seen Jackson make huge improvements each year at the high school level going from having a freshman year PR of 14.14 in the 100 to 12.67 this year.
According to Desmond's mother his 12.67 at the NCHSAA 4A State Championships two weeks ago reset the American Record for the T-42 classification!
You normally see a lot more of Jackson during the indoor and outdoor track season, but he missed all of indoor and a big chunk of outdoors due to a break in his big toe. He was in a boot for 6 weeks. Despite missing so much time training due to this injury, Jackson has come back better than even earning PRs in the Long Jump and 200m Dash. Jackson has come from a 15-11 Long Jump PR as a junior to jumping 17-5 at this years 4A Midwest Regional!
Aside from winning the 100 at the Paralympic Championships Jackson placed 3rd in the 200 running a PR of 26.16 to take 2nd in the T-42 Classification. He also took 8th in the Long Jump with a mark of 15-6.25.
Last summer Jackson earned the opportunity to go to Rio for the Paralympic Games and a High School Junior! Jackson took 4th in his prelim heat, but was 9th overall missing the final by .08 seconds. He was the top American at the Paralympic Games in the event. Jackson's best performance in Rio was his 7th place finish in the Long Jump.
Now Jackson will wait and see if he will get to represent the U.S. at the World Paralympic Games set to take place in London. His mother said the selection process is based on his percentage to the National A Standard.
Congrats to Desmond on what was the first of many National Championships to come!
