JACKSON BURNEY WINS THE 2023 LHSAA CLASS 2A STATE OUTDOOR 1600m!
Twenty years ago, when River Cities Track Club head coach Mychal Word set the 15-16 age group club record in the 800m with a 1:57.67 at the USATF Junior Olympics in Miami, it was special.
"I grew up on the team watching guys like Adrian Perkins and Terry Gatson run the 800m, so to have my name in the club record books, it was something I cherished," Word said.
Twenty years later, Word had a reason to celebrate on Sunday as he watched his athlete-Jackson Burney break his record by running a 1:57.50 to win the 15-16 800m at the USATF Southern Association Junior Olympic Championships in Natchez, Mississippi.
Not only was Word able to witness it. He was able to call the race as the meet's public address announcer.
After the race, Word went up to Burney to congratulate him.
"I said congratulations on officially being the team record holder, and I told him that I was glad that it was him who broke the record. Then I acted like I was crying," Word said with a laugh.
"This summer, I've been working on my first lap and tryin to get it under 55 or 56," Burney said. "Hopefully, I can run 1:56 by the end of the summer. I was happy with my time."
If all goes according to plan, the end of Burney's summer will take place at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon at the USATF National Junior Olympics. First, he will have to punch his ticket at the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics in Lafayette, LA on July 9.
The record was something that both Word and Burney had talked about as far back as last year when Burney, who was then at the bottom of the 15-16 age group, ran a 1:58.
"He and I talked about it," Burney said. "I knew I had a good shot to break it this summer. I have a lot of respect for him (Coach Word) and he has had a big influence in my life. I definitely wouldn't be where I am without him."
"He is the ultimate competitor," Word said of Burney. "He is always focused in. He is never afraid to go for it. He has mental toughness. I guess that comes from all of his years playing football."
Sunday's record-breaking performance was just another highlight for both Burney and Word. Burney, who will be a junior at Calvary in the fall, won his third consecutive 800m title in May at the LHSAA Class 2A State Outdoor Meet. Word, who is the head coach at Mansfield High School, led the Wolverine's to their third consecutive state track and field championship and was named the Louisiana Track and Field Coaches Association Boys' Coach of the Year.