This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/15/2017 12:00 AMJason O’Brien has had a busy sophomore year as a member of the football, basketball, and outdoor track squads at Valley Regional. At the recent Shoreline Conference Track Championship, Jason put forth an enormous effort by taking first place in the 300 intermediate hurdles and the long jump to go with a second-place showing in the triple jump and a third-place finish for the 110 high hurdles. Jason’s performance earned him All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors, after which he competed in those first three events at the Class M State Championship.
Jason, a Deep River resident, has earned several accolades during his first two years with Valley track. At the Shoreline meet, he scored more points for the fourth-place Warriors than four other teams totaled that day. Jason was Valley’s top point scorer on the season and also named the team’s co-Most Valuable Player, marking the second straight year that he received that distinction. One of the most interesting aspects of Jason’s success in track and field is that he started with the sport as a way to train during the football offseason.
“I started track in 8th grade. It was meant to prepare me for football, and I realized that I’m decent at it and continued it through high school,” says Jason. “It turns out that I’m starting to like track a lot.”
Jason definitely enjoyed competing at the Shoreline Championship, where he set personal records during his victories in the 300 hurdles and the long jump. Jason admits that he wasn’t feeling too sure of himself before running the hurdles, but he turned it up, and wound up with his best time of 42.1 seconds.
“My 300, I wasn’t too confident, because I never got to push myself hard this season, but in Shorelines, everyone is really fast,” Jason says. “Something kicked in, and I had a second boost. And when I finished, it felt amazing. I felt really good about myself.”
What’s even more impressive about Jason’s accomplishments is the fact that he was battling injuries throughout the season, and that limited him, according to boys’ outdoor track Head Coach Tim King.
“He was hurt the whole year, and that really slowed him down. He couldn’t get as many workouts in as a result, and the progression through the course of the season is what helps you improve,” says King, who’s also Jason’s football coach. “It was really impressive for him to run injured. Prior to running, I told him he could be champ, and he went and proved it to everyone in Shorelines.”
As for his first-place performance in the long jump, Jason’s personal-best distance of 20 feet-5.25 inches made him realize that his injury might be behind him.
“I had that hip flexor injury all year and, in Shorelines, I felt fine,” he says. “Something about that jump. I felt really great.”
Jason’s contributions helped Valley place fourth as a squad at the conference meet. He feels confident that the Warriors have no place to go but up.
“Personally, I feel like we’ll be better in the next couple of years,” says Jason. “We only have a few seniors now, so we have a lot of young people on the team. When they get older and stronger, I think the team will be a lot better.”
As part of the Warriors’ athletic sophomore class, Jason can see his team’s potential, although any progression won’t just be the result of physical talent. Coach King says that his athletes’ continued accountability to one other will play a role, and he knows that Jason is a major part of that.
“Everyone in that whole group are all leaders,” says King. “They had one of the best winter workouts and spring workouts I’ve seen, and Jason’s in there, too, leading by example.”
Jason echoes his coach’s sentiments regarding Valley’s athletes. He believes that they get good results because they concentrate on keeping each other focused, rather than calling each other out.
“We have a really good community here. Everyone looks out for each other and we all make sure we’re doing the right things,” says Jason. “A little motivation is all anyone needs.”
However, Jason’s motivation goes beyond the track and field circuit; he’s also a dedicated player on the gridiron and has been for a long time. Last fall, Jason scored six touchdowns and grabbed two interceptions, while playing wide receiver and safety for the Valley-Old Lyme football squad.
“Ever since I was a kid, I just fell in love with it,” says Jason. “I’ve been playing so long, and I know a lot about it. I think my football IQ is pretty good.”
Jason’s football IQ was on display against St. Joseph in the Class M semifinals, where he made huge plays on both sides of the ball. Early in the game, Jason picked off a pass. Then after halftime, with the game still scoreless, he reeled in a touchdown reception. Although the game didn’t go Valley’s way, Coach Tim King appreciates the gravity of those big-time plays.
“He had an interception early in the game that we unfortunately didn’t capitalize on, but it was big change of possession,” King says. “His touchdown was big in building momentum coming out of halftime, when the score was 0-0.”
With all of his success, Jason hasn’t lost sight of those who have helped him. Jason sends out thanks to his mother Denise O’Brien, his stepfather Gary Kowalski, and his father Jim O’Brien, as well as Bobby Sanchez, who’s an assistant coach in all three sports that he plays at Valley.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity and everything the coaches have done for me,” says Jason. “I’m motivated and happy I’m doing well and want to keep working to do better.”