Jones County is now home to an NCAA national champion.
Shareez Hamm, formerly a two-sport standout athlete for Jones County, ran to NCAA Division II National Title in the 400-meter hurdles for Academy of Art University at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Nationals on Saturday in Emporia, Kansas.
Hamm’s time was not just enough for championship gold.
His mark of 49.97 was also a personal best and second-fastest time in school history.
“It meant the world to me to become a National Champion, but I owe it all to God because without Him, none of this would be possible,” Hamm said in a university release.
“This shows the younger generation from where I am from that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and put God first. My main goal is to get one percent better each day.
It took a lot of hard work during the fall and spring semesters, staying consistent with training and showing up every day no matter how I am feeling or whatever is going in my life.”
With the win, Hamm is the school’s 30th national champion and is also an eight-time All-American.
Even with the win on Saturday, Hamm’s day was not finished.
He joined ART U’s 4x400 relay team that timed in at 3:08:53, a mark that was third-best in school history and took them to a photo-finish for third place, being credited with third and earning All-American honors.
“Shareez is one of the most coachable athletes and one of the best leaders I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with,” ART U track & field/cross country director Kevin LaSure said. “There aren’t many more deserving of what he accomplished today, and I am extremely proud of him. It was a great way for him to finish his college career and it couldn’t happen to a better person. This was the goal at the beginning of the season and, even when it didn’t look so promising, he stayed the course and continued to trust the work we were putting in day in and day out.”
