Texarkana, Texas native and Liberty-Eylau grad Jarrion Lawson has been big time from his time at the University of Arkansas and throughout his professional career.
On Monday night, he perhaps relied on the experience from his career to stay in tuned to the US Olympic Trials long jump competition. On the final attempt, Lawson punched his ticket to next month's 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Lawson had a good jump on his first attempt when he jumped 8.02m (26-6.75), which put him in the second position in the early goings. However, he was unable to improve throughout the rest of the competition.
Thanks to that initial leap, he was nestled in the seventh of eight positions that qualified for the final three jumps.
In the final round of jumps, Lawson was still in seventh place after a scratch jump in the seventh round. On the outside looking in, the veteran showed composure and was able to come up with the jump he needed.
He produced a season best 8.18 (26-10 feet) jump to tie him for second place with Malcolm Clemons from the University of Florida. They were behind the Trials winner Jeremiah Davis from Florida State and his 8.20 (26-11 feet) jump.
In Lawson's career, he was able to win USA Jr. and NCAA titles in the long jump to add with his bronze medal win at the 2012 Barcelona World Junior Championships. He won the silver medal at the 2017 London IAFF World Championships.
He also won the 2016 Bowerman award and won the case where he was facing possible doping penalties, but was cleared due to tainted beef.
He is now headed to another Olympic Games.
