Harrison Central’s Zahkarri McGlothin reaching for new heights after becoming nation’s top long jumper

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — The nation’s top long jumper resides in Harrison County.

Harrison Central High School track and field athlete Zahkarri McGlothin recently tied the state record in the long jump, with a leap of 25 feet and 10 inches at Biloxi’s Indian Invite Meet on March 19th.

The historic jump also ranks him in the top spot nationally in his event.

The senior’s perseverance throughout his high school career has paid off, and he has his sights set on bigger goals, such as reaching the Olympics.

McGlothin is also less than a foot away from breaking the national record in his event, and he could reach this milestone before his high school career comes to a close.

“I feel happy about it, cause [there’s] only two people that ever did that,” McGlothin said. “Me, including another dude from last year, [are] the only people that jumped 25-10 ever in Mississippi. Also, I know that I’m this close to breaking the national record also.”

Kevin Daniels, who coaches jumpers at Harrison Central, shared more on how the veteran athlete reached elite status in his event.

“He has a lot of natural talent, lot of God-given ability, and the fact that he decided to put a little more work effort into that, that’s what’s making him grow,” Daniels explained. “Like I said, he already had the natural talent, but when he focused and decided that he was just going to go after greatness, that’s what he’s done.”

“We always preach, ‘You get out of life what you put into it,'” Red Rebels head coach Nekemia Rich added. “Our coaches are doing an amazing job.”

Rich went on to show support to the program’s many assistant coaches before praising his long jumper.

“We’re extremely proud of Zahkarri and what he’s done on the national level, on the state level, on the local level.”