Burl Jackson Brashear may be the fourth in line in regard to family name but he is first when it comes to Louisiana Tech pole vaulters. This was confirmed in Tech’s initial outdoor track and field meet of the year when the freshman won the Jim Mize Invitational in his first collegiate competition. While Brashear lives in Ruston and graduated from Ruston High School if you are from Jackson Parish, in particularly Jonesboro, Hodge or Quitman, then you probably recognize the name.
Jackson, as he goes by, is the son of Tre and Deidra (Mathews) Brashear, who was raised in Jonesboro and Quitman respectively. His paternal grandparents are Burl and Alma Brashear of Jonesboro. Maternal grandparents are Butch and the late, Linda Mathews of Quitman.
While the victory is a good story in itself, the simple fact that the fourth generation of the namesake even competes on the collegiate level is better. As a junior in high school, Brashear suffered a devastating fracture to the shin of his plant leg, or if you are not familiar with the sport, the leg that you jump off of when you place the pole in the pit. The initial prognosis was dire, with the thought that his career was over before it really had a chance to begin. After several surgeries and intense rehabilitation Brashear defied all odds by not only competing in the pole vault again his senior year but winning the district 2-5A championship. Now he is a collegiate champion.
Brashear won the competition by vaulting 12′ 11.5″ in his final attempt to take the event by six full inches over the second place finisher, Adrian Holland, also from Louisiana Tech. Brashear will compete next in the ULM Invitational in Monroe this Saturday, April 23rd.
