JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 28, 2025) — Morgan State University junior sprinter Dante Jackson (Alexandria, Va.) faced a significant hurdle beyond his competitors at the NCAA East First Round at the University of North Florida.
He was slated to compete in the men's 400-meter dash, but rainstorms threw a wrench into the schedule, causing a substantial delay in the start of the track events. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, Jackson remained focused, patiently waiting for his opportunity to compete late Wednesday night.
Once the clouds broke and the rain cleared out, things got started over three hours delayed and under the lights at Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.
Jackson lined up for Heat 5 in Lane 2 for the 400-meter dash and got off to a solid start, exploding from the blocks and quickly establishing a strong position within the pack.
Ultimately, Jackson powered through the final stretch, crossing the finish line in fourth place. His effort was rewarded with a personal best time of 46.30 seconds, a significant achievement that secured his advancement to Friday's quarterfinals.
Jackson's previous best time was 46.35 set at the Maryland Kehoe Twilight Meet in College Park, Maryland, on May 2, 2025.
Jackson finished with the 21st fastest time among the top 24 athletes advancing, and his momentum will undoubtedly fuel his confidence as he sets his sights on advancing to the ultimate goal: the NCAA Championships.
The top 12 finishers in each event and 12 teams from each relay event from the NCAA East First Round will advance to the NCAA Championships. The NCAA Championships will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on June 5-8.
ESPN+ will provide daily coverage of the East First Round meet.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
You can find the schedule of events for the 2025 NCAA East and West first rounds below:
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Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
