Darius Weathers - Track & Field Gave Him Life

Columbia, SC

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Darius Weathers

Darius Weathers likes to call Columbia, SC, home. However, the community of Irmo is his native. Darius was born and raised in the small southern town, and many of the values that he exhibits, integrity, hard work, and academic and athletic achievement, can be traced back to his roots. His father, Charles Weathers, runs his own management consultant business. Darius’ mother, Brenda Black, works in the Office of Veteran Affairs for the state of South Carolina. His stepmom, Anita Garrett, also helps his dad run his consulting business. In summary, Darius loves his family, his community, and, of course, sports.

He shares, “Growing up, I was always an active child, so there was never a dull moment. Whether it was jumping up to attempt to touch the top of doors while walking down the hallway or racing my friends to determine who was the fastest student in the school, I was up for the challenge. The competitiveness stemmed from having two older brothers. As the youngest boy, I was always trying to keep up. The competitiveness stemmed from having older brothers. As the youngest boy, I was always trying to keep up, and competing with them brought the best out of me.”

Darius also has a younger sister. He is also a graduate of Irmo High School. There, Darius was a three-sport athlete. He later attended Wingate University in North Carolina on a track and field scholarship. At Wingate, he excelled, though his track and field talents were realized at a much younger age. In terms of organized sports,

Darius’ first experience was basketball at the local YMCA. He was an adolescent, and by age 12, he began running track. He was a member of the The Storm Track Club, nd by the time high school came around, Darius was running at full speed. He says, “High school track turned into a lifetime of memories and a nationally recognized career on all levels.”

In Middle School, Darius ran track under the direction of Coach Barry Lee. He had his first varsity experience in 8th grade when he qualified for the region in the Long Jump. “The Triple soon came into play as the late Coach Mike Moore had a rule on his team; anyone that had long jumped had to triple jump,” Darius says. Today, he is an All-American Triple Jumper on the collegiate level, an achievement that he credits to Coach Moore. In high school, Darius ran for the Handz Down Track Club, coached by Russell Smith. He is the one that Darius says pushed him and his group to their limits. Darius would also play football and basketball while in high school. With basketball and as a senior, his team was runner-up for the state title.

Darius says he is mostly inspired by his parents. He adds, “Growing up, no matter what was going on, they made sure that we had what we needed to be successful. It may not always have been the newest shoes or the highest of techs, but we never felt left out of anything. As I’m maturing now and getting a glimpse of how hard life can be, I respect them so much more. The strength that it takes to deal with life’s stressors and raise four kids takes some grit. Knowing that they were able to do that gives me the drive to attack everything with my best foot forward.”

Darius credits his dad with having a huge impact on his life also. “Off the track, I was learning lessons on what it means to be a man all throughout my younger years, such as handling my business, watching my finances, taking care of the house, and doing all the small things to be successful. When I was younger, I would think that he was just talking, but now that I’m older, I’m seeing those lessons come to life, and I have to apply them in real-time.”

Darius’ academic achievements include a bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and a Masters’s Degree in Sports Marketing and Coaching. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., a Certified Personal Trainer, a Certified Digital Marketer, and a Sports Business Careers Summer Cohort Fellow.

Looking ahead, Darius shares that he plans to be a coach, especially for the horizontal jumps. “Ultimately, I know I’ll be forever in the world of sports, whether that be as an athlete, coach, or even in a corporate office. It has done so much for me that it’s only right that I do more for it. I still have aspirations to compete again, and I also want to see what life is like without the pressures of training for a bit,” he says. “Outside of that, I’ll be looking to grow my personal brand, “Dash Elite Training’’. Determination, Aspiration, Strength, Humbleness.