By Skip Weaver
Contributing writer
Jalin Marshall has done just about everything he possibly could during his high school athletic career.
He’s won Greater Miami Conference titles in football and basketball, and he owns several school records on the gridiron. He’s also a state champion in the long jump, and now that the spring sports season – Marshall’s final as a high school athlete – is about to begin, he has his sights set on defending that title and hopefully add a couple more in the high jump and 100-meter dash.
“I’m a competitor, so if I’m going to do it, then I’m going to do it to win,” Marshall said recently after competing in the Middies annual Purple and White intrasquad meet at MHS’ Bob Mucha Track Complex. “I’m looking forward to being able to compete at the high school level one more time.”
Marshall is Middletown’s career rushing leader in football with 4,759 yards. He signed committed to play football for Urban Meyer and The Ohio State University at the beginning of this school year, and could have graduated early to get a head start on his college career.
But that wasn’t what he wanted to do.
“I wanted to live out and enjoy the rest of my high school career,” Marshall said. “I considered it, but after weighing my options, it just wasn’t the right thing to do for me.
“I enjoy being out here having fun with my teammates and competing with my friends,” he continued. “This is what feels right to me and I don’t wish I could change anything.”
Marshall won the Division I state long jump event last year with a leap of 23 feet and ¾ inches. He also stood on the podium tied for fourth place in the high jump after clearing the bar at 6-6. Marshall passed at 6-7 and tried to come back in at 6-8, which would have given him the state title, but he missed all three attempts, and also because of missies early in the event, he fell to fourth just one inch out of a first place.
“He should have won the high jump,” MHS high jump coach Keith Vinson said. “We tried a technique of passing a height which had worked well for him at the district and regional meets, but his legs were too tired and he missed.
“But he is a 7-foot jumper and our goal for him is to break the school record of 6-11 ¼,” he continued. “I have no doubt he can do it.”
Marshall will also compete in the 100 dash this season, an event he has never competed in before. While he isn’t sure he can win a state title in the sprint event, he does feel he can be competitive.
Middletown boys track coach Brian Lampart believes Marshall can be competitive as well.
“He can be successful in any event,” Lampart said. “He is that type of kid and it has been a pleasure to coach him.
“It’s hard to put into words what his leadership has meant to this team,” he continued. “But hopefully it snowballs throughout the whole team because we feel what we have is pretty nice.”
OTHERS TO WATCH
Lance Johnson, Middletown, senior
· Last season placed fourth in D-I state 300-meter hurdles (38.45 seconds)
Jacquelyn Crow, Lebanon, junior
· Last season placed eighth in D-I state 3,200-meter run (11 minutes, 3.47 seconds)
Emma Kroger, Valley View, senior
· Last season placed third in D-II state pole vault (11 feet, 6 inches)
Jenni Rossi, Fenwick, senior
· Last season placed fifth in D-II state shot put (40 feet, 11 inches)
Marcus Smith, Carlisle, senior
· Last season placed sixth in D-II regional long jump (21 feet, 6 ¼ inches)
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