Freshman runner Jack Wilkes came to LSU as the top high school middle-distance runner in Louisiana.
Wilkes specialized in the 800-meter race and won the state championship during his senior season at Airline High School in Bossier City. 
Cross country and distance track coach Khadevis Robinson recruited Wilkes with the vision that he would run cross country to build endurance for track season. Wilkes said he benefitted from running cross country but is happy it’s over so he can start focusing on track in the spring.
“I can’t wait for track season,” Wilkes said. “I just feel so much more comfortable on the track. I don’t have to worry about my footing; I know where to kick; I can see how much of the race is left and where everyone is.”
Wilkes said running in the Southeastern Conference is different than high school because the runners start off much
faster. 
But the training Robinson puts his runners through has Wilkes in the best shape of his life, and he’s confident his background in cross country will help him get out quicker and stay at a faster pace than he is used to.
“That’s what [Robinson] was thinking by putting me in cross country,” Wilkes said. “I ran the 5k in cross country to build endurance. Matching
endurance with my foot speed will cut my time. Cross country really helped with my pacing and strength.”
With increased confidence from training with Robinson, Wilkes has set lofty goals for himself, including breaking 1:50 in the 800-meter course and 4:05 in the mile. 
Wilkes said 4:05 in the mile is an aggressive goal because it’s nearly 14 seconds faster than he has run in a meet, but his top time is needed for the distance medley relay team to meet its goal of qualifying for
nationals.
“I think the [distance medley relay] for men can be good with [Wilkes] running the mile,”
Robinson said. “But nothing is given; they’ll have to want it and compete.”
Fellow distance medley relay runner and sophomore Blair Henderson noticed Wilkes has improved significantly from the first day of workouts and expects him to surpass his personal bests of 1:52.15 in the 800-meter race and 4:18.98 in the mile.
“Jack really pushes for a freshman,” Henderson said. “I think he is ahead of where I was at this time last year. Ever since he came in I’ve been pushing myself to be a leader for him since I was in his place last year. I’m teaching him some of the things I learned that I think will help him during track season.”