SMITHVILLE — In a few short months, Jordan Runnels will be leaving his farm home in rural Smithville and head for the bright lights of Dallas.
Once in Dallas, Runnels will join the Southern Methodist University (SMU) football team as a preferred walk-on.
Runnels has a couple of stops on his way to the big city.
His first will be Friday at the University Interscholastic League’s Track and Field State Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin where he will jump in the Class 3A triple jump state finals.
His second stop will be graduation on June 4.
Runnels is very familiar with the big-time atmosphere at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
He has run in the Texas Relays there for the last two years.
“Been there before, although I haven’t jumped there,” Runnels said. “I know what to expect.”
Runnels will be jumping against some of the best triple jumpers in the state, according to his coach Cyril Adkins.
Among them is Taylor’s Mark Jackson, who will jump at the University of Texas next year.
Jackson enters the Class 3A triple jump with one of the best distances in the nation and is seeded No. 1 with a qualifying jump of 51 feet, 5.75 inches.
The No. 2 seed is Jarrion Lawson, of Texarkana Liberty Eylau, with a distance of 48-3.
That’s about  seven feet further than Runnels’ qualifying jump of 44-8, which has him seeded eighth going into the state meet.
Adkins, who won a state title in the triple jump while he was at Smithville in 1994, said the field is wide open.
“(Class) 3A has the best triple jumpers in the state of Texas,” Adkins said. “Usually, it comes down to who the toughest competitor is, not necessarily the best triple jumper.”
Adkins said that Runnels fits into that “tough competitor” category because of how he made it to Austin.
“Jordan had to beat a guy with his next-to-last jump to take back his spot,” he said. “Jordan has been doing five events in track for the last four years and hasn’t missed a workout in those four years. That says a lot because that rarely happens in track.”
Runnels has been a successful athletes in his four years at Smithville, accumulating several honors in football, including being a two-time All-Bastrop County selection at running back.
Even with all of his success, Runnels said he’s going to put it in God’s hands and let things happen as they may.
“This is all icing on the cake,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy, but all I can do is practice and work hard and see what happens.”
Runnels is scheduled to jump at 1:45 p.m.

UIL TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
When: Friday-Saturday
Where: Mike A. Meyers Stadium, Austin
Tickets: Students: $5 per session; Adults: $10 per session. All-Tournament pass is $25. Tournament pass for sessions 3-4 is $15.
Parking: $10 self pay at Manor Garage and Trinity Garage
On the Web: Live streaming of the UIL Track and Field State Championships may be found at www.flotrack.com.
Schedule
Session I: 3200 meter runs, Class 1A, 3A, 4A, 2A field events, Friday at 8 a.m.
Session II: 1A & 4A running events, Friday 6 p.m.
Session III: 5A 3,200 meters, Saturday 8 p.m.;  2A & 3A running events, Saturday, noon.
Session IV: 5A running events, Saturday, 6 p.m.