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Dawson Isbell, a four-time state track and field champion, returned home to receive his final state championship ring and support his brother’s football game.
•Isbell, now a freshman at Troy University, credits past athletes for his success and aims to earn a spot at the conference level in college track and field.
•His future goal is to become a pararescueman in the U.S. Air Force after his college career.
The stone-studded rings shine on his right hand, weighing his fist down a bit as Niceville High School’s four-time track and field state champion Dawson Isbell smiles at the camera.
Isbell, now a freshman again at Troy University in Alabama, came home to watch his little brother, Landon, play football and collect his final state title ring. The Eagles won another game to keep their undefeated season.
The 800-meter specialist is decidedly humble about the achievement and is quick to credit athletes who came before him for allowing him the opportunity to four-peat. “the first one, I didn’t really earn it that much,” Isbell said with a sheepish smile, “I didn’t really score at all. So the second, third, and fourth ones were great because I scored, and I just kept scoring more points for the team, helping them out more. And it just felt great to be able to actually contribute and have a whole team working for one thing.”
Isbell started his running career in the sixth grade on a whim. “I was like, ‘You know what? I’ll just run cross-country. Why not.’ It was just because I had an ego and was a fast kid in fifth grade,” he remembers, “I just started running, and I was like, ‘I’m good [at running], I should probably keep doing this.”
In addition to the 800, Isbell participated in the 4×400 relay and 400.
Since his graduation from Niceville High School – Isbell joined the track team at Troy University. The team finished their season in the first round of the NCAA East Track and Field Competition. Isbell hopes to earn a spot at conference this year.
Isbell has his sights set on his time after college. He hopes to become a pararescueman in the Air Force.
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