The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Q&A with sophomore Mark Jackson
02.01.2012 | Track & Field / Cross Country m, Track & Field / Cross Country
Feb. 1, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texassports.com sat down with sophomore jumper Mark Jackson on Wednesday to talk about a variety of topics including how he thinks his season is going and what he calls his car.
What has been the biggest difference in training from last year to this year? I know what coach expects, and I also know what is going on. Last year was more of a learning process; I was taught new drills, new running form. This year has been smooth due to knowing what to expect.
What is your goal and what are you focused on for this season? My goal is to be an NCAA champion in any event that coach lines me up in. I would love it in the triple jump, because I won the event in high school. I want to be a high school champion, collegiate champion and Olympic champion in the same event.
As you have competed in your first few meets of the indoor season, what is your feel of the season thus far? Personal and/or team? Personally, I feel as though I am off to a really good start. My marks are almost to where they were at the end of indoor season last year. Though I am not close to my personal best, I am consistently higher than where I was last year. As a team, the sky is the limit to what we can do. We really have a golden opportunity if everyone plays there part.
With each meet, you must have set objectives -- whether it is a distance or a place. What are you looking to do in the next meet? My objective for the next meet is to go out there and compete. Give it my all. If I do that and everything is right, I can win.
Do you have any rituals you go through before competing? I have no rituals. I go through different things. My ritual is originality; to change up things by being silly and playing around it in order to loosen me up.
What is the environment at practice? We think of practice as a way to get better every day. Me and Emerson Sanders before practice like to hype each other up by screaming and busting the doors open like we would be running out of a tunnel at a football game.
What has been your favorite class at the University of Texas thus far? Human sexuality.
If you visit one place where would you go? London, because the Olympics will be there this summer. I want to compete, visit, and shop. I hope to visit the rest of the world too.
Do you have a name for your car? My car is named Spade.
What is your favorite not so healthy snack? Nutty Buddy.
What is your Gatorade flavor of choice? Orange.
If you were an animal, which animal would you be? Kangaroo because I could jump around all over the place, but I do not want to have a pouch. I will be an unknown, rare breed of Kangaroo without a pouch.
