Dematres Jackson, Crossroad graduate, commits to Fort Valley State Track and Field

Dematres Jackson, a 2021 graduate of Crossroad Academy Charter School, is set to become a Wildcat this fall after announcing his commitment to the Fort Valley State University’s track and field program earlier this month.

Jackson, a talented multi-sport athlete from Quincy, announced his commitment on his Instagram account.

“For the next four years I will be attending Fort Valley State University,” wrote Jackson. “I will also be running track at the next level.”

Standing at just five-foot and three inches, Jackson’s road to commitment was no easy task.

Jackson faced numerous career-threatening injuries dating back to his freshman season of high school, when he suffered a groin pull that limited his time competing.

A list of injuries followed the multi-sport athlete, including a hip flexor tear and a minor hamstring strain that Jackson is still recovering from.

Despite setbacks, Jackson has seen success on and off the field since a young age.

Dematres Jackson, a graduate of Crossroad Academy Charter School and former student-athlete at Gadsden County High School, has committed to Fort Valley State University and its track and field program. Jackson will begin classes and athletics at the university this fall.

Jackson attended Gadsden County High School and St. John Paul Catholic School in Tallahassee during his freshman and sophomore years, and mentors and coaches from both schools have praised Jackson’s leadership on and off the field.

“I met Dematres when he was a seventh grader. He was always a good kid with good grades,” said Gadsden County High School Track and Field Head Coach, Ricardo Shaw. “As a coach, I can honestly say he was one of my better coachable student-athletes that I ever had in my career since 2002. He is the only athlete that has never questioned me.”

Jackson has led Crossroad Academy’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400-meter relay teams to the state finals twice, once as a member of the junior varsity team and as a senior on varsity this past spring.

His contributions earned his team sixth place overall in the 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2017 Florida High School Track and Field Championship.

Jackson has set personal records of 11.45 seconds in the 100-meter dash, 22.78 seconds in the 200-meter dash, and a whopping 53.26 seconds in the 400- meter dash.

Jackson has expressed his love for track and field as “bitter-sweet” but welcomes the completive challenge.

“The track world is like a big family, but at the end of the day everybody is competing,” said Jackson. “Despite training with your teammates, you are on your own…this is an individual sport with a team concept. My teammates push me to be better.”

Several members of Jackson’s family have stated their belief that Jackson’s college choice was a good one and should benefit him.

“I was excited about Fort valley, especially once I found out how close it was,” said his mother, Lakenya Jackson. “Fort Valley [is a] Historically Black College or University. I believe that will give him more opportunities that he was looking for in a college as for fraternities and meeting others that share similar interests.”

Fort Valley State University, a public historically black university, is located in Fort Valley, Georgia.

Founded in 1895, Fort Valley State University is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

The rising college freshman will be under the leadership of Terry Rhodes and the rest of the Wildcat coaching staff this upcoming season as they look to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference title.

The Wildcats’ first official meeting was held March 6 at Savannah State University’s Ted Wright Stadium in Savannah, Georgia.

Adrian Andrews - Gadsden County News Service

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Dematres Jackson, Crossroad graduate, commits to Fort Valley State Track and Field

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Gadsden County Public Library welcomes three new library staff members

Havana horse-woman makes a name for Gadsden County equestrian arts

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