WS Chronicle

Jada Dowd

Over the past six months Jada Dowd has steadily progressed to the point where she is proficient in four separate events. During the Region 25 qualifier on July 4 weekend, Dowd showed everyone in attendance how far she has come.
Dowd finished first in the 800 meters, first in the 400 meters, and fourth in the 200 meter dash. Not only is she a wiz on the track, Dowd also finished first in the high jump as well. She was the most valuable runner for the state of North Carolina for the meet. She runs for the Lights Out Track Club, which practices at Parkland High School.

According to assistant coach Jarrell Elliot, Dowd’s best events last year were the 400 and 800 meter dash. He said that this year she came out with a lot more foot speed, which enabled her to become better in those events as well as becoming an above average 200 meter runner. With her also gaining height on her high jump, Dowd was poised for a break out year.

“I am most proud of her for just going out there and just competing,” Elliot said. “The girl she raced in the 800 meters had beaten her all year long, but in this meet, she went out there and raced her instead of

Assistant Coach Jarrell Elliott thinks with her
versatility, the sky is the limit for young Jada Dowd.

sitting back. She was confident in her training, and she went out and gave it her all and executed the game plan.”

Elliot stated that Dowd has tremendous range with the speed to run an event such as the 200 meters and the endurance to run longer distances such as the 800. He says she needs to just continue to grow and find out what her signature race will be in the future.

Dowd’s expectations for the meet were to exceed what she had already done up to this point. With a trip to Junior Nationals in Humbolt, Texas, July 30 through Aug. 6 on the line, she wanted to make sure she gave it her all.

Dowd practices her footwork in preparation for the Junior Olympics in Texas at the end of this month.

“I expected to go out and do my best and try to do things that I haven’t done during the season,” Dowd said. “I was very proud of myself for just not giving up and coming back especially during the 400 meters.”
Dowd said her best asset is her long legs because it helps with her stride. She enjoys track and field because she is able to travel and spend time with her friends and teammates. Outside of running track she enjoys swimming and skating. She stated her favorite subject in school is math and she knows that the books come before sports.

Jada Dowd, who won the Region 25 high jump finals, will try to top her personal best of 5 feet.

Athletic Director for the track club Chris Joines said Dowd epitomizes what the track club wants from their athletes by performing on the track as well as in the classroom.
“She has been in our program for a number of years and from an academic standpoint, she is top notch,” Joines said. “She has a good attitude and a good work ethic so it transitions into the classroom from that standpoint. We are really proud of her for her achievements on the track and our mission is to develop student athletes.”

Dowd has a strong family foundation at home with her grandparents Robert and Della Dowd, along with her parents Angela Dowd and Jermain Marlin cheering her every step of the way.
Della Dowd said, “I am very, very proud of Jada. She has worked very hard all year long. We can’t say enough about her. She has done very, very well.”
Her coaches feel the sky’s the limit for Dowd. They said if she continues on this path, a Division I scholarship is in her future.