By Anna Haynie
“You feel good, you feel good, you can do it, ” BYU distance runner Elizabeth Jackson repeats over and over in her mind as she pushes herself through a 5K.
“Your body will believe whatever your mind tells it,” Jackson said.
Jackson has been telling herself she can do it ever since the eleventh grade when she gave up dancing after 13 years to run track with her friends.
And her body has responded.
No athlete in the history of BYU — man or woman — has ever been a four-time All-American cross country runner.
Until now.
But four-time All-American only tops the list of Jackson’s talents and accomplishments.
“She’s an all-American woman in more than one way,” assistant track coach Patrick Shane said.
Jackson was awarded the Outstanding Senior Female Athlete Award based on her high athletic and academic performance and sportsmanship.
Shane described Jackson as an artist, musician, dancer, athlete and an outstanding student.
“She’s just a well-rounded individual,” he said.
Jackson is red-shirting during this outdoor track season, so she can improve her times in the steeple chase enough to qualify in the event next year.
The steeple chase is a 3K with five hurdle-like barriers spaced throughout each lap. After one of the barriers is a 10-foot-long pool that begins three feet deep and gradually angles out. It’s not a race that many athletes enjoy running.
Except for Elizabeth Jackson.
“Right away I was like, ‘I love this event,'” she said.
Jackson has the fastest time on U.S. record for the race.
Shane feels Jackson’s ballet and dance training have given her the technique and coordination needed for this event.
“She dances over the barriers and through the water,” Shane said. “She’s an artist out there, performing.”
The difficult decision Jackson made years ago to give up dance performance to develop her talents in running is one that she doesn’t regret, for many reasons.
“In running I can get better and better, through practice and setting goals. I love to have that control,” Jackson said. “It’s so different from dancing where improvement was harder to measure.”
A sense of accomplishment is just one of the benefits Jackson reaps from being a member of BYU’s track team.
A large part of her love for running is the people she’s had the opportunity to run and work with.
“I love the people I’m around, they are my best friends,” Jackson said. “The girls are just real quality girls; they’re hardworking, fun and genuine. We have a good time together.”
Aside from their scheduled practices with the team on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, each athlete is responsible for running a set number of miles each week on their own or with other members of the team.
Jackson prefers running with a group.
“Running is just not very exciting unless you’re with a group and have something good to talk about,” she said.
Jackson said that sometimes the girls are laughing so hard they can’t even run.
Shane considers Jackson to be one of the most talented athletes he has ever coached, and has enjoyed working with her for a number of reasons.
“She’s fun loving, outgoing, friendly, spontaneous and funny, not to mention a good athlete,” Shane said. “She brings out the best in everything, that’s why everyone loves to be around her.”
Jackson attributes her success to many people, her coach, Patrick Shane, her supportive parents and especially her teammates.
“I would be no where without my team,” she said. “They are great examples, good friends, and just amazing girls.”
Although she gets a great deal of support from friends and family, Jackson has decided that success in her sport will come solely from her desire.
“I don’t think there are any distance runners that do it for the glory. It has to come from you, you have to just want it for yourself.”
Jackson wants it for herself, so she will continue to repeat, “You feel good, you feel good, you can do it.”
And she will continue to win.
