VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Jaden Compson, like most high school athletes, wants to go to a big college and compete at the high level of college competition. But sometimes other factors play into picking a college and being close to home can be one of them. Tuesday, Compson signed his letter of intent to run track at Valley City State University.

Compson, who is a senior sprinter for the Valley City Hi-Liners, says many factors played into his decision to stay in Valley City.

A sprinter in High School, Compson says he may look at other events to run for the Vikings, but the two his does run, keep the family tradition going.

In 2019, the last year there was a State Track And Field Championship, Compson was a member of the Hi-Liner 4×100 relay team that qualified for State. He ran the anchor leg with teammates Evan Mielke, Cade Powers, and Austin Shape.

During that season, as a sophomore, Compson took second in the 60 meter dash at the NDSU JV Invitational Indoor Meet. And was on the 4×200 relay team that took third at that meet. During the outdoor season, he took first in the 100 meters at the Bill Jansen Last Chance Meet, and second in the Mustang Invitational T & F Meet.

He was part of four relay teams that placed third or better. The 4X100 with Austin Shape, Austyn Thornton and Evan Mielke, they took second at the Joan Halland Invitational and Cade Powers joined Mielke, Shape and Compson for a first place finish at the Bill Jansen Last Chance. The 4×200 team of Mielke, Shape, Powers and Compson took third at the Mustang Inviatational and first at the Bill Jansen Last Chance.