Jade Jordan is a track and field standout at Fayetteville State University who is currently at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas ahead of the NCAA 2022 Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships. The junior communications student-athlete will compete in the triple jump field event on Saturday, March 12th.
 
Jordan had an abbreviated 2020 indoor season which spanned a few days beyond a month. She made the provisional qualifying leap of 12.12 meters (39' 9.25") at the Christopher Newport University "last chance" Qualifier Meet on February 27^th before the deadline. 
 
The Road to Kansas City
 
After a day of getting the feel of the pit at the Carnie Smith Stadium, where Jade will be the only student-athlete to represent Fayetteville State on the national stage, emotions came to the forefront of her journey that she wouldn't have bothered entertaining a little over a year ago.
 
Emotions like being excited, sort of anxious, and a little nervous.
 
"With the COVID pandemic and my journey," expressed Jordan, "it's been surreal coming in and finally making it to Nationals. I'm being blessed with more opportunities and chances at Fayetteville State." 
 
"To be the lone athlete representing FSU is where I'd say the nerves are coming from."
 
After the first day of traveling, one of Jade's main goals was to feel out the runway, the pit, and the sand while staying loose and light to get back into the swing of things during her warm-up. 
 
Jade Jordan is a native of Fayetteville where she won back-to-back NCHSAA State Championship triple jump titles at Pine Forest High School as a junior and senior, while also playing soccer within the same seasons.
 
Gaining her first collegiate national qualification was a challenge.
 
Jordan received a full-ride scholarship to compete for UNC Charlotte, after high school graduation. She finished third in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump (12.10m) at the Conference USA Indoor Championships in her rookie season. In the 2019 season, Jade was third again in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 12.65 meters (41'6").
 
"That story of you graduate, you get a full ride, was like check, check, and check, like a golden ticket," said Jade. "But as much of it felt like a blessing, it felt like a burden and a lot of pressure." 
 
There were several adjustments Jordan was advised to make as a high school graduate and Division I scholarship recipient in a brand-new environment. Despite her efforts, the changes were affecting her performance and naturally her confidence. 
 
Those pressures of performing at her best and managing the responsibilities as a student and an athlete began to become labor with indications that she was not performing well, and her grades were on the decline. 
 
Being the youngest sibling and receiving a scholarship was very important to her and the inability to keep her grades up to make sure she could retain the free education was a huge indicator that something was wrong in her life.     
 
Trying to make sense of what was affecting her grades, Jordan was tested for ADHD, depression, and anxiety. It was determined that depression and anxiety tested the highest for which antidepressants were prescribed. Academic suspension followed and although she had petitioned to return to school, the deadline to apply passed which prompted Jordan to enter the transfer portal. 
 
Her longtime trainer Coach Vee suggested Fayetteville State University where she eventually connected with the Broncos Head Coach Inez Turner. A phone conversation between the two was all it took to have Jade Jordan return home. 
 
Jordan said that UNC-Charlotte was a blessing because it guided her to FSU, but it wasn't an easy road.  
 
She remembers slowly falling for what she loves about the sport and academia, setting her sights on becoming a Bronco displayed on the 3.0 academic wall in the Felton J. Capel Arena. 
 
"The conditioning is hard. It's a very tight-knit team. I like the campus and this community. I'm enjoying this lifestyle and every day I get more excited to come to practice. Just like that, I realized that I'm starting to love track again." 
 
Jordan added, "I feel faster. I feel healthier and I also love the people at Fayetteville State. I love the environment. It's like people are looking out for you here and there and they care about you." 
 
After a year on pause due to the pandemic, Jade Jordan competed in two meets before her first CIAA Indoor Track and Field Champions. At the JDL Fast Track facility in Winston-Salem, NC, she won the long jump and the triple jump (11.76 meters – 38'7") and was crowned the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's field most valuable player.
 
Jade won the long jump championship title with a season-best of 5.63 meters. The NCAA DII provisional qualifying mark is 5.67 meters. She jumped 5.49 meters days after the championship at the University of South Carolina and 5.48 meters at Christopher Newport University.
 
She remembers thinking the curtains closed on her chances of qualifying in the long jump, so she left it all on the track for the final triple jump event. 
 
"I wanted to qualify for Nationals so bad, and I didn't want to hold anything back."
 
Her first leap into the triple jump pit was 11.72m. She fouled on the board on her second two attempts, but her first jump was enough to make the finals.
 
During her flights, she relied on focusing on mechanics and making the adjustments that jump coach, Clive Terrelonge was directing her to. 
 
She popped 11.99m on the second flight and it improved to 12.01m on her next attempt. Sprinting down the runway on her final attempt, Jade's hop, skip, and jump landed her the 18th best Division II performer of the season. Just enough to secure her participation in the National Championships.
 
There are two women, whom Jade Jordan credits for her inspiration and who she receives much encouragement. She once met long jumper Tianna Bartoletta, who shared things that have stuck with her.
 
"Think Fly, Not Land" - Don't think about the landing, focus on the flight. 
 
Jordan says her mother Jennifer Jordan is very strong, intelligent, caring, and humble. She thinks she gets those qualities from her. 
 
"As I get older, I respect her and love her even more because of what she's been through and her passion. That's my motivation to keep striving."