The past two years have been an incredible run for Creekside mid-distance runner Jackson Storey, who announced his commitment to Columbia University on Wednesday via Twitter.
Storey captured the Class 3A 800m State Championship at last year's state finals, helping his Knights finish third in the final team rankings. He finished seventh at the 2016 Cross Country finals last November, playing an important role in helping Creekside capture their second consecutive team championship. Taking the scholarship offer to Columbia was the icing on the cake.
"Columbia offers a great combination of impressive coaches, a strong middle distance program and outstanding academics," Storey said. "I also found the opportunity to live and study in New York City to be very appealing based on my career goals. It will be a real honor to attend the same school where Warren Buffett completed his graduate work in Economics."
It wasn't always a breeze for Storey, especially in the classroom. He grew up with dyslexia, a learning disability, throughout the majority of his childhood. Hard work and patience was needed to overcome that, just like patience was needed for him to heal plantar fasciitis which plagued him through cross country season. Most of his training was done in the pool or on the training bike.
"Columbia is an excellent school and they are lucky to get such an outstanding young man who will bring that intensity and focus to the track and to the classroom," said Creekside Head Coach Eric Frank.
He joins Nick Deal (UF), Matt Clark (UF), Reece Duff (Stetson), and Alex Bolt (West Virginia Tech) to the college runners from that cross country team coming out of Creekside.
But the story isn't over for Storey, there's still another chapter to write in the upcoming track season. He returns as one of the valued members on the Knights' 4x800m relay that finished second in 3A last season, and will look to take home another 800m championship after going 1:56.03 at IMG Academy. His PR stands at 1:52.59, where he took third at the Florida Relays last March.
There's a possibility he can become a four or five-time state champion by the end of the 2017 season, but there's a more important goal at hand for Storey and the rest of the Knights.
"It would be a major accomplishment to be a four-time state champion and it is one of my goals, but looking at the bigger picture, I am really focused on helping our team win the first team title in track and field," Storey said.
Creekside finished behind Chiles and Barron Collier last season, and a couple points could make an ultimate difference for what the final standings will look like.
"The Creekside track and field and cross country program has been blessed to have him for the past four years. I am truly blessed to have coached him," said Frank.
