On Track

Jasmin Walker loves numbers — some high, some low. It adds up to make perfect sense for the accounting major, who has become a Southern Conference (SoCon) champion on Georgia Southern’s Track and Field team.

Running and jumping have been part of Jasmin’s life since she was six years old. “I really didn’t want to be involved in track and field at first, but my parents encouraged me, and said the events would keep me healthy and active,” said Walker.

The now 20-year-old athlete soon developed a passion for the sport. “The long jump became my favorite event,” said Walker. “It just comes so naturally to me because I’ve been doing it for such a long time.”

During her freshman year, Walker was a walk-on for track and field and won the outdoor long jump title at the SoCon Championships. By the time she was a sophomore, Walker had earned a scholarship.

In April, as Georgia Southern hosted the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Erk Russell Athletic Park, Walker defended her long jump title and soared to a mark of 19’ 1.25” — longer than the typical length of the average sports utility vehicle. Walker’s personal record in the long jump is 19’5.”

However, that was not Walker’s only trip to the platform to pick up an award. While speed launches Walker into the air in the long jump, it also put her in position to run the lead leg on the 4X100m relay team with Ebony Carter, Alyssa Felton and Amber Vaughn.

The team also won the SoCon title, and narrowly missed breaking the conference record by just 1/100 of a second. Their time of 45.46 seconds did set a facility record. “This was a great season for me,” explained Walker. “I am proud of our success, but I know we can do better and improve our times.”

In life, in class or on the track, Walker is driven to succeed. “She is definitely a competitor,” said Marlo Mincey, head coach of the Eagles Track and Field team. “If I had to sum up Jasmin, that is the number one characteristic that I see in her. Jasmin wants to win and likes tough competition. She will do her best to help the team win a conference championship.”

As Walker prepares for her junior year, she is training on campus with her teammates in the sweltering summer sun. She expects the training and practicing to pay off with more opportunities to post winning numbers. “I really want to make it to the NCAA regionals and hopefully nationals in the long jump,” she explained. “To make it there, I need to hit the mark of at least 20’ in the long jump. I have to train harder in the off-season so this pays off for me and my Eagle teammates.” — Casey Jones