Jasmine Moore: Jumping into History

You know her on social media as Jaz. Her jumping exploits are ubiquitous; almost every weekend, we read another story of her breaking a national age-group record or setting a personal best in either the long or triple jump. Warning: don't get complacent; rather, enjoy the resplendent smile of an athlete who competes with killer instinct and from the fear of an opponent's challenge to her throne.

Jasmine at 2018 Texas Relays - (pic by TTFCA)

Jasmine Moore of Mansfield Lake Ridge is a rare combination of long jump and triple jump excellence. She represents the paragon of horizontal skills the high school world doesn't see too often. A great long jumper, sure. Someone like Kate Hall of Maine, now an NCAA Champion at the University of Georgia, whose 22-05 stands as the U.S. high school record. A great triple jumper, of course. Someone like Brittany Daniels of California, whose 44-11.75 triple jump is the standard to chase, unless one counts her all-conditions 45-07.50 in 2005. Other names come to mind: Keturah Orji (New Jersey; 44-11; 2013) and Kathy McMillan (North Carolina; 22-03; 1976.)

Jasmine and Ychlindria Spears-Dolce - picture by RoJo of Inside Texas Track

Hall, Daniels, Orji, and McMillan are great jumpers, yet Jasmine's ability to produce outstanding marks in both jumps places her in unique company: she is one of three (3) American high school girls to ever reach 21' and 44' in the long and triple jumps respectively. Let that sink in a moment. Thousands of high school girls have both long and triple jumped, yet only three (3) have EVER cleared 21' in the long jump and 44' in the triple, regardless of conditions [Jasmine's 21-01.25 long jump has not been verified for legal wind.] She joins Juliana Yendork of Walnut, California, the first to accomplish this feat, with marks of 21-03.25 and 44-03.50 in 1991 and Luling, Texas' own Ychlindria Spears, whose marks from 2001/2002 are 21-01.25 and 44-02.25. Upon learning of this accomplishment, Jaz says, "Wow, that’s crazy to think I’m one-third of the high school girls to have hit those two marks." As for improving her technique in an effort to advance her marks, she adds, "This year I’ve been trying to improve my speed down the runway as well as my landing. Hitting these marks so early in the outdoor motivates me to keep it through the summer." [As for improving her speed, you can often find her running first leg on the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.]

Juliana Yendork, 1991

So what makes Jaz so special? Coach Kenny Roseman says, "As an athlete, she is one of the most hard working individuals. Nothing is given. She goes out every day to perfect her craft. Her goals will not be knocked off track. She loves the 'process' of getting better. She truly works this hard because she knows other people have that potential to jump far. She has some high standards for herself; even for me, it is crazy to see."

On May 13, 2016, at the UIL State Championships, Jaz broke the national freshmen class triple jump record with a second-jump mark of 42-01.75. On May 12, 2017, she broke the sophomore national class record in the triple jump (43-04.75), also at the UIL State Championships. She followed this with a junior-class indoor triple jump record of 42-09.50 at the Texas Tech Under Armour High School Classic. The UIL State Championships are just around the corner. Could the all-time Texas mark of 44-03.50 set in 2004 by Erica McLain finally fall, or possibly the U.S. wind-legal mark of 44-11.75 set in 2004 by Brittany Daniels? Perhaps, but if not, remember - she still has another year of high school, so enjoy.