James Jett Biography

Jefferson High School / (Class of 1989) Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia

Classification: AAA Boys

Specialty: Sprints

West Virginia University / (1990-1992) Morgantown, West Virginia

James Sherman Jett (born December 28, 1970), is a former American football wide receiver and Olympic sprinter who played nine seasons for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders from 1993 to 2002, in the National Football League. He attended college at West Virginia University.

High School (1987-1989):

A Charles Town native, Jett attended Class AAA Jefferson High, ending his high school career with seven state track titles (five individual), four state records, two high point titles and several personal records. At one point, James Jett held the metric distance records in every sprint distance from 100-meters through 400-meters. Many people will argue that Jett is the greatest sprinter West Virginia has ever produced in the last 100 plus years.

As a sophomore (1987), at the West Virginia State Championship, he placed second in the 100-meter dash (10.78), second 200-meter dash (21.96), and third 4x200-meter relay (1:30.6). The Cougars tied Wheeling Park for third in the team standings with 52 points.

As a junior (1988), he won the state title in the 100-meter dash (10.76), 200-meter dash (21.94), 4x100-meter relay (42.92), and the 4x200-meter relay (42.92), and high-point honors (25). The Cougars placed third in the team standings with 48 points. [Note: Jett ran the 200m trials in 21.72]

As a senior (1989), he won three individual state titles in the 100-meter dash (10.74), 200-meter dash (22.35), 400-meter dash (47.74 - Record), and high-point honors (30), while placing fourth in the 4x100-meter relay (44.2). The Cougars placed fourth in the team standings with 46 points. [Note: Jett ran the 100m trials in a record of 10.62 & the 200m trials in a record of 21.39]

During Jett’s three years at Jefferson High, he scored a total of 72.5 points while participating at the West Virginia High School Class AAA Boys State Meet.

Jett holds school records at Jefferson High in the 100-meter dash (10.08), 200m Dash (21.10), 400m Dash (47.74) and 4x200m Relay (C. Branson, C. Hosby, S. Christian, J. Jett - 1:28.40).

In football, he played quarterback and wide receiver and earned an all-state selection his senior year.

Jett’s High School State Final PR's:

· 100 Meter Dash - 10.74 (10.62 Trials)

· 200 Meter Dash - 21.94 (21.39 Trials)

· 400 Meter Dash - 47.74

· 4x100 Meter Relay - 42.92

· 4x200 Meter Relay - 1:29.98 (1:28.47 Trials)

All-Time Lists:

· 2nd and 9th All-Time All-Class 100 Meters

· 2nd and 9th All-Time AAA 100 Meters

· 1st, 4th, 6th 1980's AAA 100 Meters

· 3rd All-Time All-Class 200 Meters

· 3rd All-Time AAA 200 Meters

· 1st and 2nd 1980's AAA 200 Meters

· 2nd All-Time All-Class 400 Meters

· 2nd All-Time AAA 400 Meters

· 1st 1980's AAA 400 Meters

· 3rd 1980's AAA 4x100 Meters

· 4th All-Time All-Class 4x200 Meters

· 4th All-Time AAA 4x200 Meters

· 3rd 1980's AAA 4x200 Meters

Colligate West Virginia University (1990-1992):

During his three years at WVU, James Jett established himself as one of the most prolific performers in WVU track history, earning seven All-America honors during his three seasons of competition. As a freshman, he finished fifth in the NCAA indoor championships in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.24. As a sophomore, he earned All-America accolades in the indoor 200-meters, as well as in the outdoor 100- and 200-meter dashes. In 1992, the Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., native earned three additional All-America honors. He finished third in the 200-meter dash at the indoor meet and ended the season by recording second place finishes in the outdoor 100- and 200-meter races. Jett ran the fastest time in the nation that year with a 19.91. He was honored as the West Virginia Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 1992.

Jett finished fifth at 100-meters in the U.S. Olympic Trials in New Orleans, earning him a spot on the 4 x 100-meter relay Olympic team, which won the gold medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics with a time of 38.95 seconds. He also outran eventual Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis in the 100-meters during prelims to the games.

Jett ran the first two rounds of the 4 x 100-meter relay in Barcelona, and then gave his spot in the finals to Carl Lewis. All team members earned a gold medal. Jett earned NCAA indoor and outdoor All-America honors in the 50-meters, 100-meters and 200-meters during his career and finished as NCAA runner-up at 100-meters and 200-meters in 1992.

His personal bests are 10.10 seconds in the 100-meters and 19.91 seconds in the 200-meters.

Jett was elected in the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Jett also played college football at West Virginia University where he was a four-year starter at receiver.

Jett’s Personal Bests at WVU:

· 55 meters - 6.12 - Morgantown, West Virginia - February 10, 1990

· 100 meters - 10.10 - Sestriere, Italy - July 21, 1992

· 200 meters - 19.91 NWI - Morgantown, West Virginia - April 18, 1992

Professional (NFL):

He spent ten seasons as a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders. In 1996, he won the NFL fastest man competition and was a finalist in 1997.

Personal:

· Born December 28th, 1970

· Parents Louis & the late Vivian Curry Jett, brother Louis A. Jett

· James Jett and his wife, Cara, have two children, James Jr. and Jordan.

· He attended college at West Virginia University (1990-1992)

Submitted by Mike McMillion (06/12/17)

Results courtesy of RunWV, Jesse Skiles & WVU Sports