Breaking Down The IL 2016 Signing Class (Remix)

Tony Jones

Ja'mari Ward signaling the #1 pose in which the 2016 signing class may be looked upon in years to come

storylines by Tony Jones and Pierre Nealon

Ja'mari Ward (Cahokia): The most decorated horizontal jumper in Illinois history still has one more season in high school to terrorize the jump pits and his competition. Ward enter 2016 as the best leaper in the country. He rates #1 all-time indoors in the triple jump (51-7.75) and long jump (25-7.25)- both marks won the 2015 New Balance Indoor Nationals and held up as US#1's. Ward continued his mastery outdoors with state titles in both jumps and produced legal marks of 25-6.5 (+1.8) and 51-11 (+1.6)- US#2 and US#1 respectively. Ward will enter the University of Missouri on a mission to destroy the Tigers school records, which are incredibly within his personal bests. Cahokia head coach Leroy Millsap stated that Ja'mari's best event is the long jump and he feels his pupil will have an opportunity to make the US Olympic team. "The goal is for Ja'mari to reach 27-feet," he said recently. That ambitious goal would certainly make the team and place him in medal contention. The triple jump is an event that Ward's loves but a project for the time being.

Ja'mari questionnaire: 

Ja'Mari congratulations on your commitment to Missouri, how does it feel to finally have the weight of choosing a college off your shoulders?

It feels nice to be able to just enjoy the rest of my Senior year!

Nationally you were one of the most sought after recruits in your class. You took visits to top academic and athletic institutions, what was it about Mizzou that made you decide that is was the place for you? What are you looking to study at Mizzou?

I just enjoyed being with the team and I liked all the opportunities at the school. As of now I am undecided of my Major.

Your summer was cut short by a few injuries, how is your health and how has your training been going?

Everything is going fine and I don't have any pain anywhere!!!!!!

You have been one of the most hyped athletes in Illinois track history dating back to your middle school days, many people couldn't wait for you to reach the high school ranks to see how you would progress. Here we are now in your senior year of high school and many would agree that you lived up to the hype. Did you feel any pressure throughout high school to live up to expectations?

 I did... the only pressure was during my freshman year. Everyone telling me I would be the first freshman to win State at Cahokia. After that there has been no pressure.

Heading into your final season of track and field, you are a defending national champion, a seven-time Illinois state champion, an all-time IHSA record holder in three events; you've competed all over the USA and in Cuba, and is the nation's top returning horizontal jumper. You have accomplished a lot in three years, what individual goals have you set for yourself entering your final season of prep competition?

I want to win both the long jump and the triple jump at State and become the best triple jumper ever in Cahokia's ever by jumping farther than our school record of 52' 5 3/4" 

Check out Ja'mari's record breaking jump from the 2015 NBIN: 
http://il.milesplit.com/videos/78377

Personal Records

  • 400m (in) - 53.70
  • 3 Mile (xc) - 18:24.56
  • 5K (xc) - 20:17.20
  • Long Jump (in) - 25-7.25
  • Long Jump - 25-6.75
  • Triple Jump (in) - 51-7.75
  • Triple Jump - 51-11