Anthony Jett
Year of Induction: 2022 | Categories: Individual, Track
There were few who could keep up with Anthony Jett during his time with the Salem Wildcats track program. The 1995 Salem Community High School graduate claimed six individual North Egypt Conference championships. That list began during Jett’s sophomore season in 1993 when he claimed the NEC 400-meter crown. Jett defended that NEC title in the 400 meters as a junior in 1994 and also added a first place finish in the 100-meter dash to his resume. Jett became a three-event NEC champion during his senior season in 1995 as he posted victories in the 100-meter dash with a time of :11.0, the 200 meters at :22.6 and his third 400-meter championship at :50.2.
It was not just the North Egypt Conference where Jett dominated the sprints. Jett was a two-time individual qualifier for the Class AA state meet. The first occasion came during his sophomore season in 1993 when he qualified in the 400-meter dash with a runner-up finish at the sectional in a time of :50.9. Jett earned a return trip to state in the 400 meters as a senior in 1995 when he won the sectional championship with a school record time of :49.5.
Besides his varsity school record in the 400 meters, at the time of his Hall of Fame induction Jett held the school freshman record for the 200-meter dash with a time of :23.6 and the 400-meter dash at :51.9. He also owned the sophomore school record in the 400 meters at :50.7 along with school indoor records for the 200-meter dash at :23.7 and the 300-meter dash at :33.5.
Salem won NEC team championships all four years with Jett in its track program.
While Jett also participated in cross country and basketball during his time at SCHS, it would be track that would be Jett’s ticket to the collegiate level as he competed the next four season with the Murray State University Racers. While Jett remained in the sprints at Murray State, he was inserted into the hurdles competition. Despite being a novice at the hurdles, by the time Jett finished his time in college he was less than one second off the school record in the 400-meter hurdles.
After graduation Jett worked nearly 20 years as a construction manager of health care facilities from Alaska to Florida before he returned to school to pursue a Masters Degree in cybersecurity.