This is the latest in our series of features on the members of our All-Decade Team.
JACKIE ARESON
With high school bests of 18:17 for the XC 5K, 10:33 for 3200, and 2:12.25 for 800, Jackie Areson was a great well-rounded distance runner. But it was the mile that proved the perfect balance between her 800 meter speed and her cross country endurance. It was that balance, along with great competition, that propelled her into the 4:40s four times during her high school career and gave her the state record that still stands today of 4:45.01 3200 equivalent.
After finishing seventh her freshman year In cross country competing for Cardinal Newman, she found herself running behind fellow All-Decade member and teammate Nicole Schappert for two of those years. It made up an incredible 1-2 punch for the Pope John Paul II team that put them first and second in the 2A state meet Jackie's sophomore and junior year.
Jackie's sophomore track season was a huge coming of age and confidence builder. After finishing in fifth place for the mile at Nike Indoor during the winter (4:55.37), she put up superb numbers all season long in the 1600 and 800. Her first state championship came a month later, when she capped the breakout year with a 2:13.54 victory in the 800 at the 2A State Championship.
About three weeks later Jackie engaged in what may have been the best Florida girls mile duel ever at the Florida Milers Club Meet versus future Olympian Jenny Barringer. The two went at it in a small, yet stacked, field including then teammate and mile state champ Nicole Schappert and Footlocker finalist Laura Bowerman. Barringer ended up nipping Areson for the win 4:49.01 to 4:49.53, but it proved Areson was a force to be reckoned with and translated to a 4:47.85 1600 PR.
Jackie's junior year produced another state championship in the 800 meters, a 2:12.25 PR. And she had two huge mile performances that post-season. Her 4:50.07 win at Golden South for the full mile gave her confidence going into Nike Outdoor Nationals. Going against what has been called the best mile field ever that included Sarah Bowman (who set a meet record that day), Brie Felnagle, and Danielle Tauro, Areson held her own... she finished in sixth place with a time of 4:46.67. That translates into a 4:45.01 1600, considered the all-time record in Florida.
Those merits earned Areson a coveted invitation to the Boston Indoor Games to compete in prestigious high school mile. Then in March she headed to Maryland to compete at Nike Indoor Nationals, where she earned the title of indoor mile national champion with her winning time of 4:50.13.
After her indoor "season", she tripled at the Palm Beach County Championship and broke the meet record in the 1600 (she broke the 800 record as a sophomore). Then at the state meet, competing in the 4A for Delray Beach Atlantic now, she finished third in the 800 and earned her first 1600 state title. And then concluded her career with another Golden South mile victory and another trip to Nike Outdoor.
Jackie is now entering her final year competing as a member of the star-studded Lady Volunteers at the University of Tennessee.
Interview
When you reflect back on your high school career what are you most proud of?
I’m proud of so many things when it comes to races in high school, for example, winning the mile ay Nike Indoor National’s my senior year (2006). I remember when I first raced there my freshman year in the freshman mile and watched the “big girls” race. I thought to myself “I want to win that race by the time I graduate”. It was pretty much my main goal from then on. When I actually did it, it was the most amazing feeling of my life. I’m proud of the fact that I kept that goal in mind and worked toward it every day and never had doubts. The other thing I’m proud of is getting all American my junior year (2005) at Nike outdoor nationals in possibly the deepest high school girls mile in history and setting the all time state record, it still makes me smile.
Who or what things made the biggest impacts on your success?
My high school coach and athletic trainer Isiah Coles had the biggest impact on my career, and he still does to this day. He’s like a father to me and there still isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t talk to him. He didn’t just coach me, he tried to teach me everything he knew so I would be prepared for college track without him by my side every day.
Who were some of the athletes you remember that you loved competing against?
My favorite person that I competed against had to be Alondra Cooper of Suncoast. As a sophomore I started running the 800 and loved it so I ran it a lot that year (2004). Every time we raced the 800 we had battles that were so exciting. It was just a lot of fun to race with her.
What are some of your fondest memories from high school athletics?
I would have to pick my first state championship as my fondest memory of high school track. It was my Sophomore year (2004). That year I had my heart on running the mile at the state meet but I also ran the 800 and districts as a backup. I ended up getting disqualified right before the start of the mile so that meant I was forced to race the 800. Winning regional’s and states that year is still a really special part of my career because it was such a surprise and made me realize the kinds of things that I could accomplish. (And also because it was such an exciting and close race between me and Alondra Cooper).
What are you doing now as far as career, competing, family?
Now I am about to start my senior year at the university of Tennessee. Since high school I’ve had quite a few bumps in the road but this past year was finally a step in the right direction for me. I made NCAA’s for cross country as an individual and set huge PR’s in the 3000m indoor (9:24) and the 5000m outdoor (16:11). I made my first NCAA outdoor meet also. I am really looking forward to my last year of eligibility and trying to stay on track with lowering my PR’s as well as graduating with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
What else do you want to add or say to the flrunners.com community?
I would say to not take your years of competing for granted. It’s so easy to say oh I’ll do better next year, or train harder next summer. Time flies by and before you know it, your years of track and cross country are behind you. This is my last year of being a full time athlete and it’s sad for it to be almost over. Don’t hold back.
Up Next: Lauren Austin
This is the latest in our series of features on the members of our All-Decade Team.
JACKIE ARESON
With high school bests of 18:17 for the XC 5K, 10:33 for 3200, and 2:12.25 for 800, Jackie Areson was a great well-rounded distance runner. But it was the mile that proved the perfect balance between her 800 meter speed and her cross country endurance. It was that balance, along with great competition, that propelled her into the 4:40s four times during her high school career and gave her the state record that still stands today of 4:45.01 3200 equivalent.