Jackson Spencer (runner)

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Spencer Jackson
Spencer Jackson winning 2025 Nike Cross Nationals
Personal information
Born (2007-11-29) 29 November 2007
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Long-distance running, Cross country running
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  United States
World Cross Country Championships
Bronze medal – third place2026 TallahasseeJunior team

Spencer Jackson (born 29 November 2007) is an American long-distance and cross country runner.[1]

Biography

From Utah, Spencer attended Syracuse High School and Herriman High School.[2][3] Competing on the roads, he won the Deseret News 5k in Utah as a seventeen-year-old in July 2025, with a time of 14:37.[4]

Competing in cross country at the Clovis International at Woodward Park in Fresno in October 2025, Spencer ran seven seconds faster than any high schooler had previously run on the course, breaking German Fernandez record from 2007 and nine seconds faster than Nico Young, who ran 14:26 in 2019.[5] Later that month, Spencer won the Utah state cross country title, running the fastest time recorded at the Utah state championships, breaking the previous best time set by Casey Clinger.[6] After this, he won the NXR Southwest in Arizona.[7]

On 6 December 2025, Spencer won the Nike National Cross Country Championships.[8] On 13 December 2025, Spencer won the Brooks XC Championship in San Diego to complete the national high school cross country double, the first man to do so since Lukas Verzbicas in 2010.[9] The win also concluded an unbeaten domestic cross country season for Spencer.[10] He was subsequently selected to represent the United States at the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, for his debut over the 8 km distance.[11][12][13] He was the second American finisher in the race, behind Tyler Daillak, placing eighteenth overall, helping the American team to win the bronze medal.[14]

In March 2026, Spencer won the New Balance Nationals Indoor championship title over 5000 metres with 13:54.70, the second-fastest all-time American high school indoor time.[15][16] The following month in Portland, Spencer ran under four minutes in the mile run, finishing in 3:58.17.[17] On 18 June, Spencer set a meet record in the 5,000 meters at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, running 14:08.02.[18]

Personal life

In 2025, Spencer committed to attend Brigham Young University.[19]

References

  1. "Spencer Jackson". World Athletics. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. "SPENCER JACKSON 1ST PLACE BOYS FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE RACE AM SESSION - UTAH PRE-STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET 2023". Runnerspace. 14 Sep 2023. Retrieved 18 Dec 2025.
  3. Mikulich, Adam (October 6, 2025). "America First Scholar Athlete: Herriman High School's Spencer Jackson". kutv. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  4. "Spencer Jackson, Leah Taylor win Deseret News 5K (with results)". Deseret. July 24, 2025. Retrieved 18 Dec 2025.
  5. "SPENCER JACKSON RUNS ALL-TIME RECORD 14:17 AT CLOVIS INVITATIONAL". Runnerspace. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  6. Winter, Rich (29 October 2025). "High school cross country: Historic run from Spencer Jackson leads Herriman boys to 6A title, Lone Peak girls win 4th straight". Deseret.com. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  7. Hof-Mahoney, Paul (December 2, 2025). "Q&A: Herriman's Spencer Jackson Invites The Pressure Ahead Of NXN + Talks Undefeated Season". Citiusmag. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  8. Binder, Doug (Dec 6, 2025). "NO. 1 RANKINGS HOLD UP FOR NIWOT, SPENCER JACKSON AT NXN". DyeStat.com.
  9. Underwood, Steve (December 17, 2025). "Brooks Boys XC — Spencer Joins Verzbicas As Nationals Doubler". Track and Field News. Retrieved 18 Dec 2025.
  10. Lucas, Katherine (13 December 2025). "Brooks XC 2025 Boys Recap: Spencer Jackson Overtakes Mantecon For Big Win". Flotrack. Retrieved 18 Dec 2025.
  11. "World Champs Are "The Next Thing" For Double XC Champ Spencer". Track and Field News. 21 Dec 2025. Retrieved 6 Jan 2026.
  12. "Who is on Team USA for the 2026 World XC Championships?". Flotrack. 30 December 2025. Retrieved 6 Jan 2026.
  13. "SPENCER JACKSON STILL ROLLING INTO WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS". Runnerspace. 7 Jan 2026. Retrieved 7 Jan 2026.
  14. "46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships". World Athletics. 10 Jan 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  15. "SPENCER JACKSON CHAMPION BOYS 5000M - NEW BALANCE NATIONALS INDOOR 2026". Dyestat. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  16. Creasy, Jason (Mar 12, 2026). "Spencer Jackson, Marcelo Mantecon Break 14:00 For 5000m". Mile Split. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  17. "SPENCER JACKSON, ELLERY LINCOLN RUN US#1 MILES AT NIKE JESUIT TWILIGHT RELAYS". Dye Stat. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  18. "SPENCER JACKSON, AVERI LOWEN BATTLE ELEMENTS TO BREAK MEET RECORDS IN 5,000 AT NEW BALANCE NATIONALS OUTDOOR". Dyestat. 18 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  19. "Runners enjoy golden moments at Brooks National Cross Country Championships at Balboa Park". San Diego Union-Tribune. 14 Dec 2025. Retrieved 18 Dec 2025.