By Catherine Laroche
When University of Louisville junior sprinter Jonathan Combs began running track, he only did it with the intension of getting in shape for football.
“It was an accident,” Combs said. “It just happened.”
That accident turned into success for Combs, who now dreams of competing in the NCAA championships for the University of Louisville.
“I want to compete in the NCAA regional and run the NCAA outdoors championship,” he said. “I want to leave knowing that’s as fast as I could run. I want to leave with no questions. As a team, we want to have a solid year. We want to perform as well as last year. We want to move into the Big East with a lot of momentum.”
To help accomplish those goals, Combs plans on stepping up this season.
“I’m coming off a surgery on my left foot, so I plan on getting back to where I was before the injury,” he said. “I am going to kill myself on and off the track. I’m going to just work as hard as I can.”
Combs began his track career at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown, where he lettered three years in track and two in football. He placed fourth in the 400-meter at the Kentucky State AAA Championship. He graduated with a school record in the 300-meter hurdles and was a member of the record-setting 4×200-meter and 4×400-meter relay teams. He also recorded four top-five finishes at state meets over two years and earned academic all-state honors.
His success then carried over to the collegiate level.
“I chose to come to U of L because I liked the program and facilities,” Combs said. “The athletic program is going up. They take care of the athletes.”
In his freshman year at U of L, Combs finished seventh in the 400-meter at the Miami Invitational and ran the second leg of the winning 4×100-meter relay team at the Cardinal Open. He also garnered Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal and was named to the C-USA’s Commissioner’s and Fall and Spring Athletic Director’s Honor Rolls.
In his sophomore season, Combs competed at four events for the Cards and set a new personal best time of 21.57 seconds in the 200-meter at the Alabama Relays. His other career bests at U of L are 11.13 seconds in the 100-meter and 47.62 seconds in the 400-meter.
Combs said he runs for himself – and for no one else. “I want to see how far I can go and how good I can get,” he said. “I haven’t reached that yet, so I want to continue.”
“One thing that I was told is if you are not here to be the best athlete you can be, then leave,” Combs said. “The only way to live life without doubts is if you put everything out there in school, work, and sports.”
When not getting advice from his coaches, he gives advice to his teammates. “I always tell guys to seek self-motivation,” he said. “You’ll only be happy and do good if you do it for yourself, or you’ll get nothing out of it.”
Combs and his teammates will next compete in the Alabama Relays slated for March 26 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
