{"id":18365,"date":"2025-06-05T14:02:04","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T18:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=18365"},"modified":"2025-11-04T09:26:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T14:26:00","slug":"a-wilmu-ncaa-milestone-donte-dockery-jumps-into-the-history-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/05\/a-wilmu-ncaa-milestone-donte-dockery-jumps-into-the-history-books\/","title":{"rendered":"A WilmU NCAA Milestone: Donte Dockery Jumps Into the History Books\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18365_7576c7-91 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p><em>Photo by Eric Flores<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pressure was on in Pueblo, Colorado, as Wilmington University triple jumper <strong>Donte Dockery<\/strong> prepared for his last jump of the season. He\u2019d made the finals at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships but stood in ninth place after two jumps \u2014 with one chance left.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy whole point and purpose was trying to get on that podium,\u201d says Dockery, who\u2019s pursuing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/business\/business.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">B.S. in Business Management<\/a> with a concentration in Sport Management. \u201cI had to make that happen.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And he did, soaring 16.19 meters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy jaw just dropped,\u201d Dockery says. \u201cThat was the best jump of my life.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He came in third overall, earning not only a spot on the podium but also in WilmU history. Dockery was the first Wildcat to appear at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and he set a <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcats.athletics.wilmu.edu\/sports\/track\/2024-25\/releases\/20250523ygaztx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new school record<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/e55089a4-e0b7-4973-b6e3-67288509a381.jpeg\" alt=\"Donte Dockery on the podium after winning 3rd place at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships\" class=\"wp-image-18367\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/e55089a4-e0b7-4973-b6e3-67288509a381.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/e55089a4-e0b7-4973-b6e3-67288509a381-250x167.jpeg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/e55089a4-e0b7-4973-b6e3-67288509a381-720x480.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/e55089a4-e0b7-4973-b6e3-67288509a381-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/e55089a4-e0b7-4973-b6e3-67288509a381-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThose are the types of moments that make me love this sport,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s no better feeling than hearing the crowd go crazy.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now an All-American athlete, Dockery started track and field at age 11. After graduating from Alexis I. DuPont High School, he attended a local college and then transferred to Wilmington University, where he\u2019s wrapping up his sophomore year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDonte\u2019s third-place finish is incredibly meaningful because it represents more than just athletic talent \u2014 it symbolizes what\u2019s possible even when the odds aren\u2019t in your favor,\u201d says <strong>Reggie Hopkins<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcats.athletics.wilmu.edu\/sports\/track\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WilmU track and field<\/a> head coach. \u201cOur program doesn\u2019t have traditional athletic facilities or a typical campus environment, yet we\u2019re still producing athletes who can compete on the national stage. We believe that these kinds of challenges build character, and Donte is a perfect example of that. His performance reflects the heart and drive of our entire program.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dockery chose WilmU, in part, because of \u201cthe hospitality the coaches gave me when I first met them,\u201d he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The coaches impressed him, and he impressed them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDonte is a hardworking, dedicated and talented athlete with a strong attention to detail,\u201d Coach Hopkins says. \u201cHis foundation as a competitor makes him easy to coach \u2014 he\u2019s someone who understands the importance of discipline and preparation, which makes the transition to higher levels of competition seamless. He puts in the work every day and leads by example.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead to next year\u2019s competition, Dockery is setting his sights ever higher.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy goal is to go to nationals again, win and break the record,\u201d he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18365_832604-db alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18365_e6c357-cf kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18365_513ce8-7d:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18365_513ce8-7d.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18365_513ce8-7d .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18365_513ce8-7d size-large image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/WilmU-logo-vertical.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-13537\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18365_f41f75-7a kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Searching for a school that combines exceptional academics and athletics? Explore Wilmington University\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/wildcats.athletics.wilmu.edu\/landing\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>16 NCAA Division II teams<\/em><\/a><em> and more than 200 <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/programs\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>degree and certificate programs<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Considering a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/transfer\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>transfer<\/em><\/a><em>? WilmU helps you <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/degree-completion\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>maximize your credits<\/em><\/a><em> from life, work and school experiences so you can complete your bachelor&#8217;s degree faster and more affordably.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photo by Eric Flores The pressure was on in Pueblo, Colorado, as Wilmington University triple jumper Donte Dockery prepared for his last jump of the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[143],"tags":[1001,1000,999,998,14,15,144,1002],"class_list":["post-18365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-all-american-athlete","tag-ncaa","tag-outdoor-track-and-field-championships","tag-track-and-field","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu","tag-wilmu-athletics","tag-wilmu-track-and-field"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":143,"label":"SPORTS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1001,"label":"All-American 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