Burlington, Athlete
IATC Hall of Fame, 2025
Coaches often tell their athletes to not only do their best but to also be their best because they are being looked at as role models by those younger than them.
That is exactly how it started for Jarred Herring, growing up in Danville, Illinois, watching his older relatives compete in Track and Field.
Soon after that early exposure to the sport, Herring moved to Burlington and Greyhound Track and Field was back on the map in a big way.
Early season injuries during his freshman and sophomore seasons kept him from competing at the Drake Relays after qualifying, and he was the first one out at state, finishing 9th in the 100 Meters as a freshman.
If only he could stay healthy for an entire season and show people what he was capable of.
When his junior year came around, Herring was healthy and excited to show people what they had missed.
In 2007, his junior year, he won gold at Drake in the 100 meters and the 100 and 200 at state.
In his senior campaign, he won Drake Relays titles in the 100, 4×1 and 4×2 plus the 100, 200 and 4×1 at state, leading the Greyhounds to a 3rd place team finish. Also, in 2008 he was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the Drake Relays and The Gatorade Track and Field Player of the Year.
The relay titles are so very special to this champion as he was able to share this amazing experience with others. Competing at Drake and State alongside Iowa legends like Greg Offerman, Faith Burt, Aaron Stockstell and Shelby Houlihan and the relay battles with Cedar Rapids Washington, Iowa City West and Cedar Rapids Xavier have created memories of a lifetime.
Upon graduating from Burlington High School, with PR’s of 10.59, 21.78, 41.89 and 1:27.62, Herring trekked north to Cedar Falls and became a standout multi-sport athlete for the UNI Panthers. In track and field, he was a 5-time Missouri Valley champion, 3 times in the 100 meters, a Drake Relays champ in the Sprint Medley and a NCAA Qualifier in the 4×1. In football he was a 4 year starter, team captain and Missouri Valley Special Teams Athlete of the Year.
Jarred is now the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Boys Track and Field Coach at Dowling Catholic, guiding the Maroons to the 2022 state title. He and his wife Shannon are the proud parents of JJ and Sienna and will welcome Baby number 3 to the fold in April.