Jessica Baeckmann

Jessica Baeckmann has practically rewritten the track & field record book at Cairo-Durham High School. As a hurdler, she holds the 50, 55, and 200 meter indoor records as well as the 100 meter hurdles outdoor record. As a jumper, she holds the long jump, high jump, and triple jump records in both indoor and outdoor seasons. When you throw in the two relay records she holds, that makes 12 school records for Baeckmann in her career. On top of all the records, Baeckmann was a Patroon Conference 1st Team All Star and even won sectionals in the pentathlon.

All of these achievements come with an immense amount of training and dedication. “She consistently demonstrated exceptional speed and endurance during her four-hour-a-day, six-days-a-week training sessions,” said Alexs Ray, Cairo-Durham High School track and field coach. She’s applied that same hard work to her studies as well. Baeckmann was on the high honor roll all through high school and graduated in the top five of her class at Cairo-Durham. “She always pushed herself to achieve personal bests while still maintaining high academic standards for herself,” Ray said.

But despite all her success in running and jumping, there’s one event that Baeckmann says she won’t do: distance. “Originally, my track coach tried to get me to do cross-country, which I thought was terrible,” she said. “So I decided to do tennis instead, and I loved it.” Baeckmann found almost as much success on the court as on the track. She was a Patroon Conference 1st Team All Star as a junior and senior and also won the Patroon Conference Championship.

Even with all this training, Baeckmann still found the time to complete over 100 hours of community service. Through the Interact Club, Baeckmann fought food insecurity in her community by packing bags every Wednesday. She also got to serve in Costa Rica through the club when the team traveled there to build a shelter. “We woke up early every morning and went to the site, and dug dirt, poured concrete and painted,” Baeckmann said. “I really enjoyed the host family and their kids. I still think about them today, I miss them and want to go back soon.”

A lover of reading, Baeckmann says her next step will be studying English Language at Marist, where she also plans to minor in art. She plans to use these skills in publishing, perhaps designing book covers or otherwise working to see books from concept to the shelves. “I love to read books and I’ve been really interested in this subject for a while,” Baeckmann said. “My favorite genre would probably be romance—I love the Twilight series.”

Jessica Baeckmann is a testament to the value of hard work. Through tireless effort and countless hours training, studying, and serving, she is what Coach Ray calls “an exceptional athlete and a valuable team member.” Baeckmann says winning this award made her efforts feel recognized. “Receiving this athletic award is a symbol of the hard work and dedication I’ve poured into my sports,” she said. “I feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride to have those efforts recognized.”

Gregory Hagan, Cairo-Durham athletic director, agrees. “Jessica has proven to be a very determined and dedicated individual striving to better herself in every facet of her life.”