Northland's Jai Dawson (centre) edges out Mitchell Snell (left) and Taylor Smith to win the national 800m secondary schools final by 0.01 seconds in 2017. Photo / Michael Dawson (michaeldawson.nz)
Northland's Jai Dawson (centre) edges out Mitchell Snell (left) and Taylor Smith to win the national 800m secondary schools final by 0.01 seconds in 2017. Photo / Michael Dawson (michaeldawson.nz)
In the past, Jai Dawson didn't like running. Now, he is one of the best middle-distance runners for his age group in the United States.
A former Springbank School and Kerikeri High School student, 15-year-old Jai is currently ranked first in the United States for freshmen (Year 10 students) in the 600m, second in the 1600m and tied for fourth in the 800m.
Enrolled in Dana Hills High School in California, Jai lives with his grandparents after moving from New Zealand at the end of last year. For the young runner, the idea of being an athletics champion was almost repellent until he started warming to the sport.
"I always got too stressed out when I ran, I always felt a pressure to win," he said.
"But as I grew older, I noticed that pressure is what made me better and one of the main reasons why I perform to my best."
Jai's first taste of athletic success was winning the 3km Year 7 and 8 boys Northland cross-country race at Whangārei's Barge Park in June, 2015. He would go on to defend his title the following year and won multiple regional events, including breaking a 41-year-old Northland 800m record in March, 2017.
Jai was apprehensive at first to throw himself into athletics as it forced him to divide his time between running and football. Jai represented Northland for three years at an age group level and put his success in both codes down to his determination.
"As a child self-motivation was always in my blood because coming second was not good enough for me, I always strived to be the best at whatever I did," he said.
After winning the 800m at the national secondary school athletics championships in 2017 and 2018, Jai knew he wanted to test himself against the world's best in his age-group.
One of many medals: Jai Dawson smiles with his gold medal from his national 800m win in 2017. Photo / Supplied
When his grandparents came to visit from the United States in December last year, he asked whether he could live with them, a question which came as a surprise to Jai's mother, Ann.
"A week after nationals, Jai told us he had asked [his grandparents] and within two or three weeks, we were flying over there on December 30 to start school on January 7," she said.
Despite the jet-lag, Jai started training with his new school's track team on December 31 and he hadn't looked back since. Ann said letting go of Jai was hard but she was happy to see him achieving his dreams.
"It really does feel like there is a part of me missing, driving away from him to go to the airport was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
"Selfishly, I'd want him to be here but I honestly don't want him to be anywhere else, it will be the best place for him."
In what could have been his first race, a six-year-old Jai runs alongside another Springbank School student while his father Bill (right) watches on. Photo / Supplied
Kerikeri High School athletics programme manager Grant Connon was Jai's coach at the school and said he was impressed when he first saw Jai run, this time for Springbank School at a national event.
"I just saw this kid running around the track and he was miles ahead of anyone else," he said.
After teaching Jai how to run appropriately at a competitive level, Connon saw this young boy grow into a real prospect for the future of middle-distance running.
With 20 years experience in coaching athletics, Connon knew this success could be short-lived if Jai's attitude changed but for the meantime, the renowned coach suspected great things could be in store for Jai.
"Jai has had a lot of success but it is age group success and you've only made it in our world when you are an adult and you are competing at the highest level," Connon said.
"But I've had maybe two or three athletes who I reckon could make it internationally and he's one of them, and at the moment he has stuck with athletics, so who knows."
