Jackson MacKay of Banting secondary school in London, left, strides over a hurdle in a 110-metre senior boys hurdles heat at the OFSAA track and field championship in London on Friday, June 7, 2024. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press)

Winning a gold medal at the OFSAA track and field championship is a remarkable feat.

Winning three individual gold medals is nearly unheard of, but Jackson MacKay, 18, of London did just that at the provincial meet held June 5 to 7 in Toronto.

MacKay, a student at Sir Frederick Banting secondary school, won the senior boys pole vault, long jump and 110-metre hurdles.

“If someone told me I’d win three gold medals, I’d be a bit shocked, but I wouldn’t doubt myself,” he said.

“Honestly, as long as I competed and did what I could, I believed that I could have done it.”

MacKay’s time of 13.73 was the best in the field of eight runners in the 110-metre hurdles final. He jumped 7.32 metres to win the long jump.

In the pole vault, he jumped 4.6 metres to beat a number of competitors who specialize in the highly technical event.

To top it off, the Banting boys team won the boys overall track and field title. MacKay’s father Todd MacKay is the head coach at Banting.

“I just didn’t really have words,” Jackson MacKay said.

“I was incredibly excited and proud of myself, proud of my teammates; I was really happy.”

Jackson Mackay of Banting flies down lane 1 in a preliminary heat for the senior boys 110-metre hurdles at the WOSSAA track and field meet at Western Alumni Stadium in London on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press)

MacKay says his skill in track and field comes from the training he does for the decathlon, where athletes compete in 10 events including hurdles, long jump and pole vault.

He competes up to three times a year in the decathlon, an event his father encouraged him to try.

“I was so happy for him and so proud that he was able to do that,” Todd MacKay said about his son’s success at OFSAA. “I just want him to enjoy what he enjoys doing and just be successful at it and try to achieve the highest level that he can with whatever he chooses.”

Jackson MacKay says he is thankful for the guidance of his coaches, particularly his father.

Although balancing the relationship between father and coach can be complex, MacKay is grateful for his father’s role in his development.

“He’s been a huge help coaching me and introducing me to people that are great coaches and that coached me to be what I am today,” he said. “So, without him, I don’t think I would be able to do any of this.”

MacKay plans to attend Western University in the fall and has already signed up to play football and compete in track and field.

Drawn by Western’s athletic programs and its proximity to home, MacKay said he is eager for his next chapter and hopes to compete at the pro level someday.