GW’s Wilson repeats as national triple jump champ

George Washington senior David Wilson won his second consecutive national championship in the triple jump at the Nike Indoor Nationals by setting a meet record of 51-5¾ on Saturday in Boston.

The mark is also a personal best for the 5-11, 195-pound Wilson, who has signed to play running back for Virginia Tech next season. Wilson won the triple jump with a leap of 49-9 at the Nike Indoor Nationals last year.

“The crowd wasn’t really involved,” Wilson said, noting that the most cheers were elicited for a competitor from Massachusetts. “I wasn’t going to let him beat me. I used the crowd to motivate me.”

Wilson’s recent football accolades include being selected the Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia, one of 50 national Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year winners and earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl, a prep all-star game where he scored two touchdowns.

The son of Dwight and Shelia Wilson twice set GW single-game rushing records last season while running for a single-season school record 2,291 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 226 yards and a score.

Wilson, who was recruited by a number of major college football programs before signing with the Hokies, also plans to continue his track and field career at Virginia Tech.

“He just started triple jumping two years ago,” GW track and field coach Veronica Harris said. “I’m just really proud of what he does and the way that he does it. He’s always humble, congratulates others, competitors. I’m just very proud of him.”