NHS track star Davis sees jersey hung high

Published 12:02 am Tuesday, August 10, 2010

NATCHEZ — Former Natchez High track standout Janice Davis has been making a name for herself for years.

But now her name — and NHS track jersey — will be hanging for everyone to see for much longer.

Six years after graduating from Natchez High, and two years after completing an All-American career at Stanford University, Davis had her jersey added to the Wall of Champions at the Natchez Sports Center.

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Davis was honored for her individual skill as well as NHS’ six consecutive girls track state championships from 2000-2005.

“This is really exciting,” Davis said about the honor. “There are a lot of great athletes that come from here, and to have my jersey hung as being among the best ever in the Miss-Lou is truly an honor.”

Davis is the third person to have her jersey hung on the Wall of Champions this year.

Trinity’s R.J. Fleming had his jersey hung to commemorate the Saints’ 2009 football state championship and Vidalia’s Torrey Dixon had his jersey hung to pay tribute to the Vikings’ 2010 boys basketball state title.

Davis said she has lots of memories of her days at Natchez High, especially the days leading up to a big weekend meet.

“I definitely remember Friday was a nervous day,” Davis said. “Thursday was the last day I’d get a good sleep. My mom and I would go over the game plan and she’d pack the cooler and fix my pre race meal of baked chicken and pasta.”

After suffering an injury while training for the 2008 Olympic Games, Davis took two years off from running and is currently in graduate school in Atlanta.

However, she said she is ready to get back into the sport she loves.

“I really miss running,” Davis said. “Getting back into training is going to hurt after not doing it for two years, but it’s something I love to do.”

With this being a World Championship year, Davis will have a chance to make the U.S. World Championship team, but said that isn’t the main reason she is getting back into the sport.

“I just want to have fun with it,” Davis said. “I run my best when there is no pressure. If I make the World Championship team then great, but if not, it’s OK. I’ll just run the European circuit.”