The Lotts Experience Family Gold

The 2024 UIL 4A State Track and Field meet featured a unique circumstance where siblings Falyn and Jalen Lott were competing side-by-side in the long jump and both came through with a State title.

Falyn, a senior, won the event on her third attempt when she leaped 19-0.25. Jalen, a sophomore, was in fifth place heading into his last attempt and uncorked the winning jump of 22-9.25 to win by a quarter inch.

University of Southern California (USC) signee, Falyn ended up winning the inaugural UIL 4A Athlete of the Meet award. Jalen, while becoming a rising talent in track and field, he is an already proven commodity on the gridiron. He has hauled in over 33 NCAA division 1 power five conference scholarship offers.

While both Falyn and Jalen are having outstanding prep careers, they aren't the firsts in the family to have outstanding athletic careers. 

Older sister Jasmyn Lott currently plays basketball at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).

There is mom, Fey Meeks Lott who was an outstanding hoops talent out of Chicago before moving to Oklahoma to finish high school basketball. She earned a scholarship to play at the University of Texas from 1989 - 1993.

Finally, father James Lott adds to the family sports dynamics with an impressive resume of his own. He was both a track and football standout at the University of Texas from 1983 -1987 where he won four NCAA Championships. In 1994, Lott was inducted into the UT Athletic Hall of Fame. Competing for Refugio in high school. Lott once held the UIL State meet record in the high jump at 7-4.75 and it stood from 1983 until 2004. He also scored 34.5 points alone (won HJ 7-4.75 and LJ 24-1, second in 110H 13.7, third in 300H 37.4, and sixth in 4x4 ) to help lead Refugio to the state title.

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Below is a short Q&A with their parents Fey Meeks Lott and James Lott. 

How does it feel to see both kids win the State meet at the same time?

Fey - "It's an unbelievable feeling. I was overwhelmed with emotion seeing them win, especially Jalen in dramatic fashion. To see him pull it out in his last jump was amazing. He really wanted it and was determined to get it. I was really happy for both of them."

James - "Everything for us came with a plan and a sacrifice. We didn't just show up at the meet this year. It was sort of planned out, even when the kids were young. What meets we would go too and the different events of their development. To visualize being here at the UIL State Track meet, both kids winning and it all coming to the top at the same time is a beautiful thing."

How different is it watching your kids compete in the same spot where you both competed collegiately?

Fey - "It is surreal. The basketball stadium where I played is right here. Just seeing them doing it on this field is amazing. I can't believe it."

James - "Watching them, you get a little more thrill out of it. These are your kids competing at the highest level and winning gold medals. It's a special thing."

How nerve-wracking is it watching them?

Fey - "Oh my gosh! I felt like I was competing. You are so filled with emotion. You want them to do well because you know how hard they have worked. To see it unfold and some of the frustrations they have to deal with. They were disappointed in some of their jumps. I was so impressed for Falyn to go right from high jump to the long jump without time to even get her medal and still be focused. It is intense."

James - "You check the box that he (Jalen) is done with his two events. Let's close this chapter and move to something else. With her (Falyn), half of the meet is over. The pressure is off for her because she puts so much onto herself. She is like, 'I am looking forward to tonight and the race and getting it over so I can move on to the next chapter.'"

Is the meet harder on Falyn or Jalen?

Fey - "With Jalen it was like, I have arrived. I am really happy to be here and accomplish this as a dual-sport athlete. I run track, but football is my #1. For him, there wasn't as much pressure because he is only a sophomore and has two more years. He was more taking in everything just being happy to be here. He's a competitor and he's going to compete, but he is also happy to be here."

James - "With Falyn, it is 24 hours a day for the last four or five months. Jalen is more in the moment. He does football all day and then switches his focus on track when it is time.

Fey - "I think Falyn feels a little more pressure because she thinks, 'I am a senior now and want to put my stamp on it in my final year as a high school athlete.'"

James - "I think Falyn knows and we have talked about setting your legacy and being someone that people will remember years down the road. I think she is carrying it today because she wants to be remembered as one of the best high school athletes in Texas. But for Jalen, he turned it on when he got on the apron in the high jump while for Falyn, she has it on all the time."

Does it help that they are here together?

Fey - "Absolutely, I saw them interacting in the high jump and even during the long jump where they were talking to each other and encouraging each other. It was great to see. How often do you see siblings competing right next to each other on this level? They can go at each other at times but then they are very supportive of each other. It was really great to see that dynamic."