Gleason collects three podiums at state
Owatonna boys track and field was well represented at the Class AAA state meet again last week, but it was sophomore standout Jordan Gleason that stole the show for the Huskies by competing as a four-event qualifier and collecting three podium finishes while breaking some Owatonna school records.
The underclassman phenom took part in the 200- and 400-meter races while also taking the field for the long and triple jump events.
“It doesn’t even feel real when you’re up on the podium. Today, when I’m looking back on it, it’s like, ‘There’s no way I just did that.’ It’s such a big achievement to do at such a young age because it’s all like a blur in the moment,” said Gleason.
The sophomore’s best finish came in the long jump event where he posted a final distance of 22 feet, 6.25 inches to take fifth place.
Making the result all the more impressive is the fact that Gleason had to compete three times in each of the meet’s two-day window by also running in the 200- and 400-meter prelims and finals.
Gleason also competed in the boys triple jump event where he snagged 14th place – his one event where he did not reach the podium.
According to his father and jumping coach, Joey Gleason, there was one jump that was considered a foul that would have placed him around two feet further than his best distance.
The result would have been a new personal best and a potential rise into the top 10.
Gleason’s brother, Justin, a former Owatonna standout track and field athlete himself, was also on site to watch his little brother shine at the big meet.
“Justin was out there in the field which was so cool. My dad and brother are probably the reason why I do so well. My dad is an awesome coach for what it takes to succeed physically, but he’s even better mentally. He helps me tackle every challenge mentally and I couldn’t accomplish what I’ve been able to do without him,” said Gleason.
Gleason also excelled on the track by finishing ninth in the 200-meter race and sixth in the 400.
In the latter, the sophomore broke his previous school record time of 48.31 from the preliminary round by running a 48.26 in the finals.
Earlier in the season, Gleason broke a long-time 400-meter record for the Huskies that was initially set in 1981 when Patrick Schultz ran a 48.70.
“I didn’t expect it because I was so tired from the long jump. There was so much fatigue weighing me down so I didn’t expect to hit a personal best or do so well, but finishing that race and seeing the scoreboard, it was such a shock to me,” he said.
In the 200-meter race, Gleason finished in 22.01 seconds for ninth place and his final podium of the weekend.
He had already previously broken the school 200-meter record earlier in the season by setting a personal-best mark of 21.58 seconds to snap the previous time of 22.10 set by Dave Halverson (1976) and Dudley Walters (1974).
“I’m a Christian, and that’s what really has been fueling me. The reason why I do this sport is to have an impact on others. I hope that I can set the best example forth for others to follow… What pushes me to break new records and get up high on that podium is to set that example,” said Gleason.