Women's Track and Field | 5/1/2019 10:26:00 AM

Jacobs Running, Graduating With Purpose

LORMAN, Miss. - Early Wednesday morning, senior cross country and track & field standout Angelica Jacobs earned her Bachelor's degree during a special ceremony in the S.A.F.E Center.
 
It was en-lieu of Saturday's graduation since she'll be on the road at the 2019 SWAC Outdoor Championships with the Alcorn State University track & field program.
 
Even though Jacobs picked up her degree in animal science, she isn't done studying – and she also isn't done running. She still has work to do on the track this weekend in hopes of both a medal and a qualifying time for NCAA Regionals. Then, when it's all said and done, Jacobs will take the GRE exam to pursue a graduate degree.
 
Athletically, Jacobs is already the most decorated student-athlete on the roster. She holds three school records in track & field and was a two-time All-Conference selection in cross country.
 
Jacobs set the school's fastest time in the 800m for both indoors (2:18.55) and outdoors (2:14.51) as well as the indoor mile (5:22.03). It was in addition to the silver medal she picked up in the 800m and the bronze medal as part of the distance medley relay team at the 2019 SWAC Indoor Championships.
 
"She's a very strong and committed student-athlete," head cross country and track coach Fermon Tate said. "It takes a very focused person to run distance and maintain a high GPA."
 
In cross country, Jacobs was Alcorn's top finisher in every meet of her three-year career.
 
With all the success she's had in competition, the Houston, Texas native actually had a hard time adjusting to Alcorn's rural lifestyle at first.
 
"I'm a city girl and coming down here was very different, a very big challenge for me. I've not gone home as much because of my long season," Jacobs said. "It was a big challenge at first but it taught me a lot to be grateful for the things that I do have."
 
Jacobs transferred to Alcorn from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she competed her freshman year. Jacobs never planned on leaving Little Rock since she was on a full-ride scholarship, but the school did not offer her animal science major.
 
She also felt Alcorn offered a better opportunity to improve her training athletically as her times started to dip with the Trojans.
 
"At Little Rock, it was kind of hard to leave because I was on a full-ride scholarship but I decided to come to Alcorn once I talked to the coaches. I wanted to get back to the speed that I was doing in high school, and the coaches kept emphasizing how much the program wanted me."
 
Upon arrival, Jacobs made an immediate impact with the cross country team in Fall 2016. She led the Lady Braves in every meet, including a third-place finish at the Mississippi College Invitational on Oct. 7, 2016. She followed it up with a ninth-place showing at the 2016 SWAC Championships.
 
"Cross country is not one of my favorite sports, but I can say I have improved a lot since I got here. The coaches kept telling me how much stronger and better it would get me, and they were correct for what it's done for my track career," Jacobs said. "Track-wise, I don't really get tired as much as I used to because of cross country, so it's been a big implement. I wish I would've known earlier in my youth years that I needed to start cross country to have a better track season."
 
Jacobs grew up with four other siblings and ran varsity track beginning as a freshman at Summer Creek High School. Her younger brother Travis is also a runner as he's a freshman at Houston Baptist and competes in the same events as her.
 
Jacobs has always had strong connections with her family members, especially her parents Wesley Jacobs (father) and Tennie Lyons (mother). She said they are the biggest influences on her life, as well as her coaches in high school who believed in her and gave her the nickname "Mrs. Do-It-All."
 
"I'm the do-it-all person on the team. If you tell me to run the 400m I'm on the line, I'll go out there and run a 200m even though that's not my race, I'll do it. Nobody has ever heard me say no to my coach because I'm not doing that."
 
Once her collegiate career is over, Jacobs wants to continuing running in meets as an unattached participant or start partaking in marathons. She's grateful for the time she's spent at Alcorn.
 
"I can say that since I've been here, it has been another family for me outside of back home. It's helped me become a stronger person, a stronger and better leader," Jacobs said.
 
Jacobs will be competing in 1500m, the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m at the 2019 SWAC Outdoor Championships beginning Friday. The meet lasts three days.
 
"I don't want to stop running," Jacobs said.
 
#FearTheBrave