Jarrion Lawson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jarrion Lawson

Lawson during 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Personal information
Nationality	United States
Born	(1994-05-06) May 6, 1994 (age 31) Texarkana, Texas
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	172 lb
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	100 meters 200 meters Long jump
College team	Arkansas Razorbacks
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	60 m: 6.60i (2016) 100 m: 10.03 (2017) 200 m: 20.17 (2016) Long jump: 8.58 (2016) Triple jump: 15.80 (2012)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States World Championships Silver 2017 London Long jump World Junior Championships Bronze 2012 Barcelona Long jump

Jarrion Lawson (/ˈjæriən/ jarr-EE-ən; born May 6, 1994) is an American athlete who excels in sprinting and long jump. He is known for his amazing achievements in track and field, including winning multiple championships during his college years. He even achieved a rare "triple win" in 2016, a feat only accomplished by the legendary Jesse Owens before him.

Jarrion Lawson's Athletic Journey

Jarrion Lawson started track and field when he was young. He grew up in Texarkana, Texas, and played football and basketball in high school. He became very good at track and field during his first two years at Liberty-Eylau High School.

In June 2012, after finishing high school, Jarrion won both the long jump and the triple jump at the national junior championships. This earned him a spot to represent the United States at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona. There, he won a bronze medal in the long jump.

College Success at Arkansas

After high school, Jarrion went to the University of Arkansas. He competed for the Arkansas Razorbacks team. As a freshman, he finished fourth in the long jump at the 2013 NCAA indoor championships. His team, the Razorbacks, won the indoor team title that year.

Later, he won the long jump at the West Regional outdoor competition. He also started running in sprint races because of knee problems that made triple jumping difficult. He helped his team's 4 × 100 meter relay squad finish fifth at the NCAA championships.

Jarrion won his first individual NCAA title in 2014. He set a personal best in the long jump at the indoor meet, winning by a large margin. Outdoors, he placed second at the national championships.

In 2015, Jarrion started competing in the individual 100 meters race. He broke the Arkansas school record in the NCAA championship semi-finals. He finished third in the final, and his team won the 4 × 100 meter relay. In the long jump, he set new personal bests but finished second to another athlete, Marquis Dendy.

As a senior in 2016, Jarrion won the NCAA indoor long jump title again. He also placed fifth in the 60 meters race, setting a personal best time. Outdoors, he began competing in the 200 meters for the first time. He won the long jump at the SEC outdoor championships and qualified for the NCAA championships in three events: the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump.

Making History at the NCAA Championships

At the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Jarrion Lawson made history. He won the 100 meters, the 200 meters, and the long jump. This incredible "triple win" had only been done once before, by the legendary Jesse Owens, eighty years earlier!

Jarrion's total score of 31.5 points at the meet was also the best since Jesse Owens. He took the lead in the long jump in the fourth round and secured first place. He also narrowly beat Christian Coleman in both sprint races.

Professional Career and Overcoming Challenges

After his amazing college career in 2016, Jarrion became a professional athlete. He signed a sponsorship deal with ASICS. At the 2016 United States Olympic Trials, he set a new personal best in the long jump. He finished second and qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He also reached the final in the 100 meters but did not make the Olympic team for that event.

In 2018, Jarrion faced a challenge when he was temporarily unable to compete due to a test result. However, he successfully proved that this was caused by something he ate, and his ability to compete was restored in 2020.

Competition Results

See also

In Spanish: Jarrion Lawson para niños