Athlete Spotlight

Jasmin Walker doesn't carry the attitude often associated with sprinters, at least not off the track.

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The Greenbrier High School sophomore, who already owns the school record in the 100-meter dash, is modest and friendly and says she enjoys track because it lets her hang out with friends.

"She really is an extreme competitor," Wolfpack track and field coach Kati Smallwood said. "She doesn't act like it."

Walker won three events at the weather-shortened Statesboro Invitational on Feb. 28. She finished first in the 100-meter and long jump, in which she was expected to do well.

The surprise came in the triple jump, an event she began experimenting with late last season and had not yet competed in this season.

"I was practically learning how to do it better at the meet," Walker said.

She trailed Camden County's Kierra Matthews, whose qualifying mark was two feet farther than Walker's. In the final, however, Walker's effort of 35 feet, 2 inches won by an inch.

Walker said she and Matthews know each other from an AAU team years back.

Walker has competed in track and field since she was 6 years old. She competes during the summer after the Wolfpack's season is through.

Smallwood said she has noticed that several of her athletes compete outside of the school's season and that she supports it.

"It's good for them to do something out of season," Smallwood said. "There's really nothing else available that will work the same muscles as track and field."

Smallwood said that the extra work contributed to Walker's early success at the high-school level, but that most of it came from Walker's athleticism.

"Teaching her something is really easy," Smallwood said.

Walker qualified for the Class AAAA meet last season as a freshman after winning the 100-meter. She also qualified in the 200-meter and long jump, finishing second in both.

Her goals for this season include getting back to state, this time at the Class AAAAA level, and to set more school records. That could come soon.

Walker came within a foot of surpassing the school's long jump mark last season. An injured knee kept her from competing in the event much of the season, but it has her attention now.

She jumped 17 feet at the Statesboro Invitational, winning by seven inches.

She also anchored the Wolfpack's winning 4x100 relay team.

The meet was ended prematurely because of bad weather, with five events remaining.

Smallwood said the conditions were pleasant before rain and lightning; Walker said the conditions were not ideal.

"It was windy -- cold," she said. "We had to warm up a lot more; our muscles were getting cold."

The weather was warmer a week later, and on March 7, Walker ran a season-best time of 12.49 in the 100-meter dash to finish second at the Ridge Invitational in Suwanee, Ga.

"When she gets out there on the track, she does not like to be beat," Smallwood said. "She is focused down the line. She will dog herself out to make sure no one beats her."