Here's what makes Westerville North's Johnny Jackson Dispatch boys track Coach of the Year

As a longtime track and field and cross country coach at Westerville North, Johnny Jackson takes pride in everything his athletes accomplish.

This spring’s boys track squad had several achievements that stood out, including winning two events at the Division I state meet and tying Pickerington North for third (25) in the team standings, only five points behind champion Elyria.

Four distance runners scored all of the Warriors’ points at state, a fact that amazes Jackson – The Dispatch’s All-Metro Coach of the Year for boys track – even though he witnessed it firsthand.

“We put together a heck of a team,” Jackson said. “We had a shot at (winning) the state meet. We had no business having a shot at the state meet. Just taking four distance runners, you’re not supposed to be in the running for the state (title).”

Jackson, who began coaching in 1983, joined the North track program as an assistant in 1998 before taking over the girls team in 2004 and the boys team in 2006. He’s been guiding the girls cross country team since 2010.

At state, Ben Gabelman won the 1,600 meters (4:08.75), anchored the first-place 3,200 relay (7:39.91) and finished fifth in the 3,200 (9:06.8). Michael Dellasanta, Gabe Wise and Casey Carlos joined Gabelman on the relay.

Gabelman, a Syracuse signee, took home three honors at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium – Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year, Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year and overall Boys Athlete of the Year. He won the Division I state cross country championship in the fall .

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Another highlight for the Warriors this spring was winning the OCC-Capital title on their home track May 11 – Jackson’s 60th birthday.

Jackson also guided North to the team title in the District 4 meet and a fourth-place finish at regional.

He deflects credit to his coaching staff.

“I’ve been doing this so long that you see kids come and go,” Jackson said. “I love my kids and I love what I’m doing, but probably in the past five to 10 years my assistants have really helped keep me there. I really like the group of assistants that I have. They keep me going and the kids keep me young.”

Jackson “is a bedrock” at North, athletic director Wes Elifritz said.

“He’s been here through a lot of coaches and through a lot of ADs,” Elifritz said. “He’s built something special in his program. The success kind of takes care of itself because he’s built such a great culture where he has given his assistants the leeway to do their thing and the kids see that and the kids respect that. ... We like the way the Johnny Jackson approach works.”

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Jackson also credits the coaching fraternity at North, including former wrestling coach David Grant and football coach Stanley Jackson Sr .

Grant recently stepped down after 21 seasons as coach at his alma mater. Stanley Jackson, a former Ohio State quarterback, is preparing for his second season.

“One of the best things that happened to us this year was the new football coach,” Johnny Jackson said. “They have bought into track being there. Football players stepped up and filled positions that track guys left open because they either got hurt or couldn’t be there. Stanley believes in track.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here's what makes Westerville North's Johnny Jackson Dispatch boys track Coach of the Year