Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
An Eagle in a Bobsled: Jones’ Quest for the 2022 Olympics
2/19/2019 12:36:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Former EMU track star Jasmine Jones trades her cleats in hopes of a 2022 Olympics appearance
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Former Eastern Michigan University women's track and field athlete Jasmine Jones is on her way to making a dream come true — becoming a United States Olympian. The sport she is training for, however, competes in quite a different atmosphere than she saw in Bowen Field House throughout her collegiate career.
For now, the five-time individual Mid-American Conference champion is hanging up her track spikes for a life on the ice of a bobsled track.
Graduating this past December, Jones knew she wanted to continue to pursue a career as an athlete. When the opportunity to work with the US National team arose, she saw it as a natural transition and a chance to make it to the next level.
"I wanted to try something different that I am completely new to, and keep the atmosphere of being athletic and staying healthy alive after college," Jones shared.
The chance for Jones to join the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation's (USABSF) national team came national team came last May, through an opportunity presented to her because of the efforts of Associate Sports Performance Coach Aaron Short.
"When I nominated Jasmine for the NSCA All-American award last year, I had no idea what doors would open for her," noted Short. "But, I am not surprised at the opportunity in front of her. Jasmine has worked diligently to put herself in position to be successful athletically. I've seen her accept every challenge I could throw at her while training in the weight room and grow into the professional athlete she is".
Coach Short's nomination is how the USABSF found information on Jones, reaching out about the opportunity after the conclusion of her senior track and field season.
"Back in May (2018), I got an email from Elena Meyers-Taylor who found me through a strength and conditioning portal I was entered into because of Coach Short," Jones remarked when asked about her start in bobsledding. "I was not sure what to make of it, because I was thinking, 'bobsledding, what is this?'"
Jones spent 10 years of her life on the track, completing one of the most successful careers in EMU program history. She holds numerous top-10 program records, including the second-fastest 200-meter dash time in Eastern laurels. The Greensburg, Pa. native was a three-time member of EMU's conference championship-winning 400-meter relay team (2016-18), named Mid American Conference First team a combined five times, and in her senior season was named the MAC's most outstanding track performer for her efforts at the 2018 conference indoor championships.
"Jasmine is the kind of athlete that everyone would love to coach," noted Head Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Sue Parks. "She has the perfect combination of strong work ethic and competitive drive. "
After the initial contact by the US National Team, and moving past her skepticism, Jones headed to the national team's Rookie Camp located in Lake Placid, N.Y. last July and August. The camp included working with a practice sled, the first time Jones had interacted with the sport's equipment.
"Rookie Camp was a completely different atmosphere, and I was not sure what to expect going in", said Jones. "By the time I joined, there were people of all ages, and I was probably one of the youngest people there, having just turned 22 back in July. It immediately felt like I needed to show that even though I am young, I can still be able to keep up with the older people."
In a new environment, Jones relied on her knowledge and training as a track and field athlete to help her find immediate success. As Jones knows, life as a runner and a bobsledder are not too different.
"With bobsled and track, [the two sports] kind of go hand in hand with everything as far as training and weight training purposes," noted Jones. "It is a new challenge, just like when I first came to Eastern. Once again being in a whole different atmosphere, I have to work and also mature to get where I need to be."
During her time in Lake Placid, Jones posted a two-run combined time of 10.01 seconds at the Rookie Push Championships on Aug. 25, 2018, good for a third-place finish in her first-ever competitive dry run. The effort impressed the National Team, as after Rookie Camp, Jones was asked to continue to train with the team. She will spend the next year training for the North American Cup, held yearly in December or January on the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation's course in Calgary, Canada.
When asked about current bobsledding success, Jones noted her relationship with Assistant Track and Field Coach Chris Best as a driving force for her personal and professional success.
"Coach Best has been really influential," explained Jones. "Spending the last four years at Eastern with [him], I grew to trust him a lot. I trusted how he prepared me for competition, set up my workouts, and his persistence to get me in the weight room… I know they [Best and Parks] understand what is best for me at heart and need them to keep my mindset in the right place for competition."
While Jones no longer physically trains with Best, his outlook on her work ethic has not wavered.
"Her work ethic is like no other," Best noted. "She has what every coach wants in an athlete—she is hardworking, relentless, and a true team player. There was no challenge that she was not willing to concur, as she thrived under pressure."
Best acknowledged Jones' ability to be a true force in the bobsledding world, even when the move may have seemed like a jump for most.
"It does not surprise me that she got into bobsledding because that is just the type of person Jasmine is," emphasized Best. "She was always looking for a new challenge. In a sport like bobsledding, you have to be tough and relentless, and that is who Jasmine Jones is."
While the spikes are currently stowed away, Jones admits that she does not believe her time on the track is completely done.
"As far as track, I will always love track and I still believe I could go further in that as well," Jones said. "But right now, training on a bobsled, I have a chance [for the Olympics] the more I work."
While she has left the Eagles' nest, Parks believes whole-heartedly in Jones' future as an athlete based on her time in the Green and White.
"Jasmine is one of those athletes who is diligent about every aspect of her training and recovery," Parks said. "That is usually the difference between good and great. She was always willing to do whatever she could to help the team do well."
Parks, Best, Short, and the rest of the Eastern Michigan track and field program will be watching their former teammate as she continues to work towards her dreams of being an Olympic athlete.
"Bobsledding is a new sport for her but I am quite sure that she will attack it with the same intensity as sprinting," Parks exclaimed. "I am excited to see what she can do in this new venture."
For now, the five-time individual Mid-American Conference champion is hanging up her track spikes for a life on the ice of a bobsled track.
Graduating this past December, Jones knew she wanted to continue to pursue a career as an athlete. When the opportunity to work with the US National team arose, she saw it as a natural transition and a chance to make it to the next level.
"I wanted to try something different that I am completely new to, and keep the atmosphere of being athletic and staying healthy alive after college," Jones shared.
The chance for Jones to join the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation's (USABSF) national team came national team came last May, through an opportunity presented to her because of the efforts of Associate Sports Performance Coach Aaron Short.
"When I nominated Jasmine for the NSCA All-American award last year, I had no idea what doors would open for her," noted Short. "But, I am not surprised at the opportunity in front of her. Jasmine has worked diligently to put herself in position to be successful athletically. I've seen her accept every challenge I could throw at her while training in the weight room and grow into the professional athlete she is".
Coach Short's nomination is how the USABSF found information on Jones, reaching out about the opportunity after the conclusion of her senior track and field season.
"Back in May (2018), I got an email from Elena Meyers-Taylor who found me through a strength and conditioning portal I was entered into because of Coach Short," Jones remarked when asked about her start in bobsledding. "I was not sure what to make of it, because I was thinking, 'bobsledding, what is this?'"
Jones spent 10 years of her life on the track, completing one of the most successful careers in EMU program history. She holds numerous top-10 program records, including the second-fastest 200-meter dash time in Eastern laurels. The Greensburg, Pa. native was a three-time member of EMU's conference championship-winning 400-meter relay team (2016-18), named Mid American Conference First team a combined five times, and in her senior season was named the MAC's most outstanding track performer for her efforts at the 2018 conference indoor championships.
"Jasmine is the kind of athlete that everyone would love to coach," noted Head Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Sue Parks. "She has the perfect combination of strong work ethic and competitive drive. "
After the initial contact by the US National Team, and moving past her skepticism, Jones headed to the national team's Rookie Camp located in Lake Placid, N.Y. last July and August. The camp included working with a practice sled, the first time Jones had interacted with the sport's equipment.
"Rookie Camp was a completely different atmosphere, and I was not sure what to expect going in", said Jones. "By the time I joined, there were people of all ages, and I was probably one of the youngest people there, having just turned 22 back in July. It immediately felt like I needed to show that even though I am young, I can still be able to keep up with the older people."
In a new environment, Jones relied on her knowledge and training as a track and field athlete to help her find immediate success. As Jones knows, life as a runner and a bobsledder are not too different.
"With bobsled and track, [the two sports] kind of go hand in hand with everything as far as training and weight training purposes," noted Jones. "It is a new challenge, just like when I first came to Eastern. Once again being in a whole different atmosphere, I have to work and also mature to get where I need to be."
During her time in Lake Placid, Jones posted a two-run combined time of 10.01 seconds at the Rookie Push Championships on Aug. 25, 2018, good for a third-place finish in her first-ever competitive dry run. The effort impressed the National Team, as after Rookie Camp, Jones was asked to continue to train with the team. She will spend the next year training for the North American Cup, held yearly in December or January on the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation's course in Calgary, Canada.
When asked about current bobsledding success, Jones noted her relationship with Assistant Track and Field Coach Chris Best as a driving force for her personal and professional success.
"Coach Best has been really influential," explained Jones. "Spending the last four years at Eastern with [him], I grew to trust him a lot. I trusted how he prepared me for competition, set up my workouts, and his persistence to get me in the weight room… I know they [Best and Parks] understand what is best for me at heart and need them to keep my mindset in the right place for competition."
While Jones no longer physically trains with Best, his outlook on her work ethic has not wavered.
"Her work ethic is like no other," Best noted. "She has what every coach wants in an athlete—she is hardworking, relentless, and a true team player. There was no challenge that she was not willing to concur, as she thrived under pressure."
Best acknowledged Jones' ability to be a true force in the bobsledding world, even when the move may have seemed like a jump for most.
"It does not surprise me that she got into bobsledding because that is just the type of person Jasmine is," emphasized Best. "She was always looking for a new challenge. In a sport like bobsledding, you have to be tough and relentless, and that is who Jasmine Jones is."
While the spikes are currently stowed away, Jones admits that she does not believe her time on the track is completely done.
"As far as track, I will always love track and I still believe I could go further in that as well," Jones said. "But right now, training on a bobsled, I have a chance [for the Olympics] the more I work."
While she has left the Eagles' nest, Parks believes whole-heartedly in Jones' future as an athlete based on her time in the Green and White.
"Jasmine is one of those athletes who is diligent about every aspect of her training and recovery," Parks said. "That is usually the difference between good and great. She was always willing to do whatever she could to help the team do well."
Parks, Best, Short, and the rest of the Eastern Michigan track and field program will be watching their former teammate as she continues to work towards her dreams of being an Olympic athlete.
"Bobsledding is a new sport for her but I am quite sure that she will attack it with the same intensity as sprinting," Parks exclaimed. "I am excited to see what she can do in this new venture."
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Ben Reese
Friday, October 10
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Patrice Beasley
Friday, October 10