ABILENE, Texas – The collegiate hurdle stands three feet tall. It would make sense when encountering a row of hurdles, to go around them.
Staring down a line of 10 of those hurdles on a track straightaway is daunting to some. Jamal January, however, is a hurdler.
The Abilene Christian fifth-year senior from Austin prefers this event.
"I'll say it's my favorite event, just because of the success I've had in it," January says of the 110 high hurdles. January is a two-time regional qualifier, a regional finalist and a conference champion in the event.
The hurdles were never intimidating to him. January's mother, LaDrena, ran track in high school and had a scholarship at Grambling before moving on to Prairie View A&M. His father's uncle, world-class long jumper Edward Jones, was an early source of inspiration as Jamal's dad, DJ, would take him to see Jones compete.
While his son was competing in sprints and the long jump in high school, it was DJ who made the indirect coaxing of Jamal into the hurdles.
"My dad actually texted my high school coach and said, 'hey try Jamal in the hurdles," Jamal said. "I tried it and tried to mimic what I had seen."
His high school coach was impressed and told Jamal that, with a little work, he could develop into a talented hurdler.
Jamal January is a complex young man. He stands six feet tall with a "keep Austin weird" quirkiness just below the surface. Jamal keeps a singing stuffed bear and has a tattoo that says "My Only Madre." Representing ACU at meets these days, he has an explosion of hair erupting from his purple headband.
His approach to the hurdles is something of a life metaphor. Once you're into it there's a flow and once he gets to that flow, he's hard to beat.
"I would say a lot of it is muscle memory and a lot of practice," January said. "Some people like to take eight steps to the first hurdle. I've started taking seven this year. So as soon as the gun goes off, the goal is to be the first one going into the hurdle. Because usually, I tend to gradually get better going down as the race goes on. So if I know if I can get to the first hurdle, if I can beat everyone to the first hurdle, I can let my speed carry me through to the end of the race."
January has run enough races to have the technique down and that experience leads to muscle memory. The hurdles can be a beautiful race to watch but it is an intricate weave of raised knees, flexible hips, planting a foot and sheer speed. It all has to come together.
Time and Timing
His timing was right for Abilene Christian. While running in the Texas Relays for his high school, his coach, former Abilene Christian All-American Paul Carrozza noticed ACU coaches in the stands and asked if they needed a hurdler. When Coach ACU hurdles coach Michael Rasor said yes, Carrozza told him to watch lane eight.
"I had one of my better races, even though I hit the last hurdle," January said. "Three days to a week later, Coach Rasor called and talked to me and my parents and set up an official visit."
For any student, adjustment to college life can be difficult. For January, the first new hurdle to overcome was waking up and getting going.
"Just setting that alarm and not waiting to get up until I had five minutes to get to class was a huge adjustment," he said.
He's got people who have helped him with that.
"Jamal for sure is very special to me and I love him very much," said ACU Head Track and Field Coach Jerrod Cook. "He always makes me smile and brightens my day when I see him. Sometimes he needs a kick in the rear but I always know his heart is true and good."
But after getting past those early adjustments, some routines set in – including a Friday call from Mom.
"We would talk every Friday," Jamal said. "And if I didn't call, she would text 'It's FRIDAY' in all-caps."
Adjustments were made and the flow of college had set in.
Deep Loss
But last June, Jamal lost his mother and there was an opportunity to fall to pieces.
"My mom is one of the best people. It was just a really big obstacle. It took a whole toll on our family. And just, you know, we've been adjusting but losing her definitely was a big blow to everybody," Jamal said.
He keeps a copy of her obituary in his closet. The tattoo and the singing bear are Jamal's way of honoring his mother.
Jamal, Jordyn, LaDrena, Jada and DJ January
"When I was taking Spanish in high school and middle school, I would speak it to my mom and she liked the language. I would call her madre," January said. "I have a tattoo on my leg that says 'My Only Madre' (MOM). I designed it myself."
Like the tat, the bear is a constant.
"My mom would call whenever it was somebody's birthday – not text or email but actually call – because she wanted to hear your voice and wish you a happy birthday," Jamal recalled. "One of my cousins got everyone in the family a teddy bear that when you press one of its hands, it's my mom's voicemail singing 'Happy Birthday.' It's one of those things that's coming with me wherever I go."
Those expressions don't replace the warm hugs, funny nicknames and encouraging but tough words Jamal says he misses. But some things about LaDrena continue in her son.
"I tend to not let people joke around with me too much," said Jamal. "I definitely got that from her. Definitely my toughness. Sometimes my little anger side comes out. I got that from her. And I will also say I think my beautiful smile also came from her. She would say she thinks that my track speed and athletic ability came from her, too."
Almost as if his mother wouldn't have it any other way, Jamal found solace and gave solace through time with his family – his father and his sisters, Jordyn and Jada.
"I find peace in going back to Austin and being with them or having them come here," Jamal said.
Friends and Family
He considers his father to be his best friend and the weekly calls from home have continued.
"My dad is my best friend in the entire world," Jamal said. "I think me and him are each other's biggest motivators. My mom calling me every Friday; that kind of turned into my dad calling me almost every day, or me calling him just to check up on each other. It's like a father-son connection thing. I don't know why, but whenever my dad cries, I cry. For some reason, witnessing him cry just makes me cry. It can be any moment. It can be from me walking across the graduation stage or an award or something, you know, it's just a little connection thing we have. Yeah, that's my guy."
Coaches and friends have also been there for him to listen or distract him from tough thoughts.
The light has not left the eyes or heart of Jamal January. He's also found peace in the friendships among teammates, classmates and the coaching staff who have acted in the Christian love that first drew him to ACU.
"Jamal has been an incredible friend, athlete, and all-around person," said ACU associate head coach Kristian Dillard. "I've loved having him here at ACU. He's brought a new level of life and excitement to the team and he does so every single day he's here. I've watched Jamal go through things that would break the average athlete. Somehow Jamal was able to work through them with a light and hope that things would get better. His mindset is contagious, his outlook is bright, and how he chooses to affect the team is motivational and inspiring. Over the years I've been happy to call him an athlete and now family. I love the kid more than he'll ever know."
He's competing well as a graduate student and working through an internship within the athletic department. He's continued to grow from a freshman who thought he had to impress his teammates into a leader on the track.
"The Lord has blessed ACU track and field with many incredible people over the years and that includes Jamal January," said Rasor. "The infectious energy he brings to our team, and specifically the hurdle crew, is one of those intangible characteristics that a coach loves to see and it has had a big impact on everyone. Jamal has been through numerous trials at ACU and it's been rewarding to see him come out of those with a stronger determination, more motivation, and a renewed focus. Jamal is without a doubt a program changer for us and a foundational member of this team as we continue to gain ground in Division I. I'm happy to have been on this journey with Jamal and I can't wait to see how he finishes out his senior campaign, to witness him accomplish the ultimate goal of graduating, and to see what he'll do after college."
Eyes Forward
And there are certainly plans for the future. He's established himself as a hurdler to beat in the WAC and also competes well in the long jump. He'll continue to push after he's worn the ACU uniform for the last time.
His communications major may someday lead him to a career in broadcasting. Jamal has his eyes on Austin-based FloSports TV and could see himself as the next Michael Strahan. But the immediate post-ACU goal is to keep hurdling.
"I plan on training some more back in Austin and try to make it into the next Olympics and if not, just keep grinding and training and see where else we can go with this hurdling thing," January said. "My confidence went way up after making it to the regional finals last year. I'm a competitive, positive person If it doesn't go that way, as long as I know I gave my best."
Ambitious goals to be sure. But to stop Jamal January you have the beat him to the first hurdle.
