Incoming Razorback Shawnti Jackson receives national honor

FAYETTEVILLE – Shawnti Jackson, an Arkansas incoming freshman, received a national award this past weekend as she was named the 2022-23 USA Today HSSA Girls Track and Field Athlete of Year.

An official announcement was made during the USA Today High School Sports Awards show streamed on Sunday. Jackson claimed the honor from a team of 25 nominees picked from all 50 states and District of Columbia for the award.

The USA Today High School Sports Awards is the largest high school athletic recognition program in the country with 14 regional award shows and one national awards program.

Jackson, who competed at South Granville HS in Creedmoor, North Carolina, during her senior season, headlines the Razorback incoming recruiting class for the 2023-24 season in Chris Johnson’s first year as head coach of the Arkansas program.

This summer Jackson broke the national high school record in the 100m with a 10.89 victory as she raced a field of professional sprinters in Nashville, Tennessee. The previous national high school record of 10.94 was set by Briana Williams in 2019.

On the U.S. U20 all-time 100m list, Jackson’s performance ranks as the No. 3 performer with the No. 4 performance as she only trails a 10.75 for Sha’Carri Richardson in 2019 and a 10.84 by Tamari Davis in 2022. Jackson ranks equal No. 4 performer with the equal No. 5 performance on the world U20 all-time list.