Jackson Burke, a Junior at Carterville High School, has been a phenomenal athlete for the Carterville Athletics program. Burke went to sectionals in two sports, Cross Country and Boys Golf, and represented Carterville well at both. We took a moment to hear his thoughts on being an elite athlete in two sports at the same time.

What were your overall thoughts on the 2021 Golf season? 

Golf season was definitely a challenging but mostly enjoyable time. From not knowing if I was going to be able to play until the last week of summer, to overall qualifying for Sectionals [it was quite a ride]. Golf this year overall, [was] just a learning experience for everyone. For me, it was great to finally understand what I am going to have to do to prepare for the next season and, ultimately, the next level. 

What were your overall thoughts on the 2021 Cross Country season?

Cross country this year was the complete opposite of golf, as I knew I was going to do it from the start of the summer. I had many ups and downs throughout the season, progressively getting better as the season went on. Cross country is definitely a mental sport and once you get over that mental barrier, great things are bound to come. Unlike golf, we lost most of our guys on the team so it will definitely be something to pay attention to in the upcoming season.

How did it feel to be a dual sport athlete during the 2021 season?

It was definitely exhausting, always rushing from one sport to the next. Especially on the weekends where I would have cross country in the mornings and then I would have golf later in the day. It was extremely difficult to try and find time for family and friends during the fall seasons. However, I do feel as if I were able to create new memories that will never be forgotten.

Did your seasons go how you wanted them too?

Overall, yes, the seasons did go how I wanted them too. Even though I was unable to experience state, it was still amazing to qualify for Sectionals in both sports. Throughout the duration of both seasons, I was able to pick up what needed to be done in order to take the steps to the next level. Now comes the process of putting in the work to be the best I can. 

How do you feel you and your teammates can improve for next fall season?

I think that all it comes down to now is the amount of effort we all put into our sports and the steps we take to achieve our goals. Personally, I can dedicate my mornings to running and then I can go out and play golf the rest of the day, but it will all come through time and practice. Overall, I need to stay dedicated to what I am trying to accomplish and get my mind in the right place to achieve what I want to achieve. I’ve worked so many years on cross country and golf, now’s the time to put it all together and show what I have worked for.