Hall of Fame
Jackson Makene Marwa was one of many pioneers who helped the McKendree cross country/track and field programs get their start in the late 1990s. By the time he completed his career with the Bearcats, Jackson had helped the Bearcats’ running programs establish a tradition of success and hard work that continues today.
A four-year member of the men’s cross country team, Jackson was among the first runners to help the young program gain notoriety in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For two consecutive years – 1997 and 1998 – he earned NAIA All-Midwest Region honors for his performance on the course. Jackson took that one step further at the NAIA Cross Country National Championship, where he raced to a seventh place overall finish and was named an NAIA All-American. Thanks in part to Jackson’s performance, McKendree placed fifth in the final team standings at that meet, which began a run of three consecutive top-10 finishes at the national meet, including a second-place showing in 1999.
As a distance runner for the McKendree track and field squad, Jackson continued to shine on a national level. He earned All-America honors at the 1997 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships as he posted a second-place finish in the 5,000-meter run. Jackson followed with another All-America effort at the 1997 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by placing fifth in the 10,000-meter run.
Jackson was named as the Most Valuable Track Athlete by the McKendree coaching staff following the 1997 season. He also earned the 110 Percent Award in 1998.
At the time of his induction, Jackson holds top-10 career times for the McKendree cross country program at three different distances. He ranks second all-time at 10 kilometers with a time of 32:25.10. Jackson is also third over an eight-kilometer course with a time of 24:25, and he sits in fourth all-time with a time of 26:33 on a five-mile course.
