Gavin Nelson always knew his destination.

He might have changed routes, but he arrived where he always hoped to be.

And now the Northwestern senior is setting his GPS for Long Branch, New Jersey, where he will compete for the Monmouth University track and field team.

“Decided after my sophomore year,” Nelson said of his decision to pursue a college career in a different sport than he originally planned. “That was the first year I made it to states, that was more just going out and realizing that I might have a better chance of competing at a higher level with track than I did with basketball.

“Ever since I was little I always wanted to go Division 1. When I made it to states [in 2023] I really thought about it, and my mom and I made the decision that doing track would be the best for me in college.”

Nelson chose Monmouth after also considering Lehigh, Lafayette, Army, Navy and Rhode Island. He liked the campus, the Hawks’ coaching staff and the school’s proximity less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean.

“I loved it the first moment I walked on campus,” Nelson said. “The biggest thing I considered was I liked having everything on the same campus.

“I didn’t want to be too far away from home, but I also wanted a nice distance to be able to learn and grow on my own. And you can’t get much better than being a mile away from the beach. I love the beach. That was another big selling point for me.”

Nelson, a two-time state medalist high jumper, cleared a school record and career best 6 feet, 10 inches during his senior high school season on his way to a PIAA silver medal in Class 3A.

If he can continue jumping that height he could dominate the Coastal Athletic Conference, where this year’s league champ cleared 1.96 meters, or just over 6-5.

“I just want to continue to work hard and stay humble,” Nelson said. “Everyone wants to win the conference. Everyone wants to go out and make a name for themselves.

“I just hope to remember that I’m part of a new program, and I have to continue to work hard to make a name for myself and continue to be the best athlete I can be.”

Nelson leaves high school as a two-time Colonial League and District 11 champ. He burst on the scene as a sophomore when he finished third at leagues and second at districts to compete in his first of three state meets.

He improved his finish at states every season after placing 16th as a sophomore. He cleared 6-8 at this year’s state meet, taking second place to the new state-record holder.

Nelson has achieved all of this without competing at indoor meets because he was busy during winter leading the Tiger basketball team in scoring the past three seasons.

With a year-round focus on track and the training a Division 1 program offers, he plans to reach new heights.

“Hopefully I can clear about seven feet,” Nelson said. “And just continue the hard work and dedication because it’s not going to happen overnight.

“Now that I have all year to train, do indoor track, do outdoor track. I think that it’s going to be very beneficial to get that time practicing consistently. With all the time and all the great coaches they have I think I’ll make great leaps and bounds in track and field.”