(Video by Colorful Illusions)
The Miami Northwestern lady bulls won their 11th consecutive team state title this weekend at the FHSAA State Finals under Coach Carmen Jackson, for a total of 16 team championships for the Bulls.
Hired in 1979 as an assistant coach for Miami Northwestern, Jackson has not only coached some of Florida's most historic track and field athletes, but has put together a team, year after year, that succeeds on and off the track.
She thinks about her athletes' future. She wants them to succeed far beyond high school. Jackson coaches with a "Kid first" mentality.
That's why the majority of Jackson's team commits to compete at the next level following graduation. In fact nearly 100% of her athletes receive college scholarships and degrees following their time on the Miami Northwestern track and field team.
With a focus on academics, athletics, and a "no excuses" mindset, Jackson sets her athletes up to succeed in life.
This past weekend, the Miami Northwestern Bulls won the 3A state title by over 52.25 points -- the largest margin from any state championship team this season. Markalah Hart (100H), Alyssa Richard (Shot Put), and the 4x100m relay team (Lamaria Washington, Treciyah Mitchell, Christon Kingcade, Jacoria Burton) were the individual champions that scored 30 points of Northwestern's 98.25.
Since 2011, Northwestern has not lost a track and field team title and Coach Jackson's former athletes celebrate with the team from afar on all the success that the lady bulls have worked towards this season.
As a dean at Miami Northwestern and head track coach, Coach Jackson makes sure that her athletes are in position to succeed and go off to college through athletics. Winning team state titles is just a byproduct of the excellence practiced on and off the track by the Lady Bulls.