By Marqus Coleman I
Photo courtesy Metro/Edited by Annie Wills
OKEECHOBEE — For 9-year-old Okeechobee athlete Marqus Coleman II, the 2026 track and field season began with uncertainty. During the first track meet of the season, Marqus sustained a knee injury while competing in the long jump—his favorite and most successful event. The injury immediately cast serious doubt over his season. A week later, Marqus attempted to return to practice, but the swelling in his knee would not go down. Eager to return to the sport he loved, he instead began the difficult process of rehabilitation.
Marqus began treatment at Big Lake Chiropractic, where his doctor took the time to thoroughly assess the injury, review video footage from the track meet and develop a rehabilitation program specifically designed around Marqus’ needs.
After completing four weeks of therapy, Marqus slowly began working his way back onto the track. During his recovery, he worked out three times a week, focusing on strengthening his core, rebuilding his strength and, perhaps most importantly, learning to trust his knee again. Through it all, Marqus remained grounded in his faith.
For a 9-year-old, he has developed an understanding of the power of trusting in the Lord—even when things do not go according to plan. Because of his injury, Marqus was unable to compete in the long jump or the 400-meter and 800-meter events, where he had been ranked among the top five athletes in the nation. He was also coming off a dominant performance at the 2025 Junior Olympics. But the setback opened the door to something completely unexpected.
A new event
Marqus began his high jump journey. The event gave him an opportunity to use his athleticism, flexibility and strength. Marqus had always been able to naturally jump off either foot, but because of his injury, he had to learn to jump off his left leg while protecting his more dominant right leg. At first, Marqus was skeptical about competing in an event he knew little about.
Growing up in Okeechobee, he had never had regular access to a track, much less a high-jump mat and uprights. That changed in April, when Marqus competed in his first high jump competition at Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida. He had never practiced the event and had never had access to official high-jump equipment. Marqus jumped. Then he jumped again. As other athletes — some of them older than Marqus — failed to clear the bar, the 9-year-old continued to rise to the occasion. His technique was unconventional. He was essentially jumping over the bar like Superman because it was the only way he knew how. But it worked. Marqus won the competition and emerged as the No. 1 ranked 9-year-old high jumper in the nation.
Discovering a gift
As Marqus’ father, I immediately recognized that he had a special gift.
After watching him compete against athletes two and three years older, I began studying high-jump techniques online. I watched videos, researched training methods and searched for affordable equipment.
The goal was simple: find a way to give Marqus an opportunity to develop his new talent.
Because Okeechobee does not have readily available high-jump facilities, we sometimes drove hours just to find a place where Marqus could practice.
At home, we got creative.
We used mattresses, ropes and chairs to simulate high-jump training and create makeshift practice areas.
High jump is a specialized event, and not every AAU track and field meet offers it. That meant we had to search for opportunities wherever we could find them.
I began taking Marqus to AAU and USATF meets, sometimes driving two or three hours each way. We used those meets as opportunities for him to compete, gain experience and learn the event.
Living in a small town like Okeechobee comes with limitations, especially when it comes to specialized track and field facilities.
But limitations did not stop Marqus.
Marqus has competed in AAU track and field since he was 5 years old. Okeechobee has produced tremendous track and field athletes, but local athletes often face a simple disadvantage: there are limited places to practice.
Rising to the occasion
Fast-forward to July 2026. Marqus was competing at the AAU National Championship in Jacksonville, Florida, against some of the best young athletes from across the country. He cleared 1.15 meters. Then 1.20 meters.
At that point, Marqus had secured the AAU National Championship. He was the only athlete remaining in the competition. He attempted 1.25 meters—and cleared it. The crowd erupted. Then came 1.30 meters. Marqus cleared it.
A new personal best
At that moment, Marqus became an AAU National High Jump Champion. As his father, I was excited for two reasons. First, Marqus had remained positive throughout a season filled with uncertainty and had accomplished something we never imagined when the season began: becoming an AAU National High Jump Champion. Second, I thought the track season was finally over. But Marqus had other plans. After the awards ceremony, he looked at me and said: “I have unfinished business. I want to win the Junior Olympics.”
The journey to Iowa
Before the Jacksonville championship, Marqus’ mother and I had no plans to travel to Iowa for the Junior Olympics. That changed quickly. I spoke with the President of Chobee Elite, who immediately offered support. She told us, “We will help you create a fundraiser.” Neither Marqus’ mother nor I had ever participated in a fundraiser like this before. But with the support of friends, family and the Okeechobee community, Marqus made the journey to Iowa to compete in the 2026 Junior Olympics. It became more than a trip to another competition. It became a community effort.
The Okeechobee Track and Field story
Marqus’ journey is also part of a much larger story. Since 2023, Okeechobee youth track and field athletes have practiced in parking lots, on the hill at the lake, on soccer fields, softball fields and essentially anywhere they could find space to train. The lack of facilities has never eliminated the talent. It has simply required more creativity, sacrifice and determination. Marqus may be the first male AAU National Champion and the only Junior Olympic Champion in Okeechobee County history, but he is far from the only talented track and field athlete in the community.
Okeechobee has produced numerous AAU National Champions, All-Americans, and Junior Olympic medalists over the past several years. If you have ever seen the movie Cool Runnings, that may be the best way to describe how many Okeechobee youth track and field athletes prepare for competition.
They find a way.
Okeechobee County has roughly 100 young athletes who participate in track and field during the spring. Multiple youth sports organizations and parents have recognized the talent within the community and have worked to create opportunities for young athletes regardless of skill level — to develop healthy habits, build lifelong skills and compete on a national stage.
A Community behind a champion
Through all of the sacrifices, determination and challenges Marqus faced during the 2026 season, his faith never wavered. Chobee Elite, Workout Anytime Okeechobee and Okeechobee Christian Academy all played important roles in providing support, resources, guidance and opportunities that Marqus and his family never knew were available. His journey was never just about a medal. It was about the people who believed in him when the outcome was uncertain. It was about a community willing to support a young athlete who refused to give up. And it was about a 9-year-old who turned an injury into an opportunity to discover a new talent. After winning the Junior Olympics, Marqus wanted to personally thank everyone who supported his journey. It started with three thank-you videos. Then another. And another. Marqus wanted to make sure everyone who helped him along the way knew how much their support meant.
Now, he wants to bring his Junior Olympics championship medal and ring back home to Okeechobee. For Marqus Coleman II, the journey from an injured knee to a national championship and Junior Olympic Champion was about much more than high jump.
It was about faith.
It was about family.
It was about community.
And most importantly, it was about
it was about never allowing circumstances to decide how high you can jump.
Marqus never allowed circumstances to tell him how high he could jump.
courtesy photo
