CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

Olympian Jamie Nieto traveled from Sacramento, California on Saturday, November 15, 2008 to Chicago, Illinois to train with Northside College Prep Senior Eric Nelson. Eric Nelson is one of five returning high jumpers in the State of Illinois that have cleared 6’6 during their Junior year of high school.

Olympian Jamie Nieto competed for the U.S.A., the best Track Team in the World, in the 2008 and 2004 Olympics. He has a High Jump Personal Record of 7’8, and has finished as high as 4^th place in the Olympic games. He is the number one high jumper in the United States.

Jamie Nieto joined his high school Track Team during his Junior year of high school. His initial motivation for joining his high school Track Team was that he wanted to be able to jump high enough so that he could dunk a basketball. During his Junior year, he improved his vertical leap for basketball, and he also high jumped a personal best of 6’4 to qualify for the California High School State Track & Field Championships. His Senior year of high school, he jumped a personal best of 6’9. Jamie Nieto earned a Track scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, and jumped a personal best of 7’0 his Freshman year of college.

Jamie Nieto has progressed from a PR of 6’4 during his Junior year of high school to the Olympic Games with a PR of 7’8. Jamie Nieto’s current goal is to break the American Record with a jump of 7’10 ¾ (2.41 meters).

Olympian Jamie Nieto spent six hours on Saturday, November 15, 2008 training with Northside Senior Captain Eric Nelson. Nieto shared the six core Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, Celebration, Respect, Hope, and Harmony with Eric Nelson. Nieto defines the Olympic core value of “Harmony” as the moment that he cleared his PR of 7’8.

Olympian Jamie Nieto and Senior Eric Nelson trained together on the Track for hours. Jamie Nieto shared his meet day preparation for the Olympic Games with Eric Nelson. Jamie Nieto also gave him shoe selection advice, training advice, and also improved his High Jump technique. A friendship was formed, and email addresses were exchanged. It was a priceless experience.

A special thanks to World Sports Chicago, an organization committed to bringing the Olympic Games to Chicago in 2016, for selecting Eric Nelson for this opportunity, and making this experience possible.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has informed Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon that World Sports Chicago will be providing additional programs with Olympic athletes for Northside Track Team this season. As a result, this will be the best season to join the Northside Track & Field Team.