Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Track & Field Alum Jasmine Jones Selected for 2026 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team
1/20/2026 3:17:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, General
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games run Feb. 6-22 in Cortina, Italy
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Former Eastern Michigan University women's track and field athlete Jasmine Jones has been named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton Team for the two-woman bobsled, as announced by Team USA Monday, Jan. 19.
Jones is one of six athletes to earn a spot on three teams competing in Italy next month, and she will compete as a push athlete in the two-woman bobsled event. The Winter Games take place Feb. 6-22 in Cortina, Italy. The bobsled portion of the Olympics will be held at the Cortina Sliding Centre, and the two-woman official training heats begin Feb. 17.
Women's Bobsled Athletes (pilot / push athlete):
Kaillie Armbruster Humphries / Jasmine Jones
Kaysha Love / Azaria Hill
Elana Meyers Taylor / Jadin O'Brien
"It feels surreal," Jones said in a recent newspaper article. "All of the hard work, dedication, and pure training I put in came together to make this team. The job's not done just yet, but I'm ready for what's to come."
Jones, a Hempfield High School graduate, trains and lives in Lake Placid, N.Y., a hub for U.S. sliding sports. The team gathers next in Igls, Austria, for a holding camp before traveling to Italy.
At age 29, Jones reached the Olympic stage after a steady climb through international bobsled competition. She serves as a push athlete in the two-woman sled, pairing with veteran pilot Kallie Armbruster Humphries. The role demands explosive starts, balance, and trust built through repetition.
Jones and Humphries strengthened their Olympic case with a World Cup victory in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The race took place on the world's only natural ice bobsled track, a venue known for rewarding clean starts and precision.
"I had a feeling I would be named based off of performance over the season," Jones said. "But, hearing it in that moment made it real and official. I just felt stunned that I actually did it: I made my first Olympic team."
The selection followed months of evaluation by the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation during the World Cup season. Athletes earned points through results, consistency, and execution under pressure.
Jones arrived at bobsled with a decorated sprint background. At Eastern Michigan, she was a five-time individual Mid-American Conference champion. 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 First Team All-MAC 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.J Jones also attained First Team All-American honors for her performance at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships, assisting the distance medley relay team to a seventh-place finish with a time of 11:04.81, which remains the school record today.
"Jasmine's strong work ethic, competitive spirit, and toughness led her to a very successful career in our program and it's no surprise to see those same qualities pay off in her Bobsled endeavors," said coach Sue Parks. "We are very proud of her and excited that will be representing EMU and the USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics."
"Jasmine has always been the type of athlete every coach dreams of," said Jones' event coach, Chris Best. "Whatever goals she set out for herself she would always put forth the work to get it done. When she had that first phone call with current USA Bobsled member Elana Meyers Taylor; the excitement she had for this new endeavor after her track career was through the roof. Once Jasmine has her mind set to something there's no stopping her, and for her to accomplish this comes to no surprise because of who she is. I'm so proud of her and can't wait to watch her compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics" Best concluded.
Her rise began earlier at Hempfield, where she claimed WPIAL Class 3A titles in the 200 and 400. Those sprint skills translated well to bobsled, a sport built around acceleration. Crews rely on a powerful running start before loading into the sled and racing through tight curves at speeds near 90 mph.
Jones joins a list of elite sprinters who found success on ice. Lauryn Williams won Olympic silver in the two-woman bobsled in 2014. Lolo Jones also crossed from hurdles to bobsled on the world stage.
Eastern Michigan Athletics enters the Winter Olympic spotlight for the first time, while EMU track and field owns a long Olympic history with representation in every Summer Games since 1960.
EMU Olympians include Hayes Jones in 1960 and 1964, Dave Ellis in 1968, Hasely Crawford and Tony Nelson in 1972, Crawford and Deby Lansky LaPlante in 1976, Crawford in 1980, Earl Jones and Crawford in 1984, Tommy Asinga in 1988 and 1992, Paul McMullen, Asinga, Greg Rhymer, Sevatheda Fynes, and Clement Chukwu in 1996, Chukwu, Nduka Awazie, Fabian Rollins, and Fynes in 2000, Jamie Nieto in 2004, Sasha Springer-Jones in 2008, Eric Alejandro and Nieto in 2012, Alejandro in 2016, and Donald Scott in 2020 and 2024.
Olympic Bobsleigh Schedule: 2-woman
Feb. 17 - Official Training
Feb. 18 - Official Training
Feb. 19 - Official Training
Feb. 20 - Heats 1 & 2
Feb. 21 - Heats 3 & 4
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Former Eastern Michigan University women's track and field athlete Jasmine Jones has been named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton Team for the two-woman bobsled, as announced by Team USA Monday, Jan. 19.
Jones is one of six athletes to earn a spot on three teams competing in Italy next month, and she will compete as a push athlete in the two-woman bobsled event. The Winter Games take place Feb. 6-22 in Cortina, Italy. The bobsled portion of the Olympics will be held at the Cortina Sliding Centre, and the two-woman official training heats begin Feb. 17.
Women's Bobsled Athletes (pilot / push athlete):
Kaillie Armbruster Humphries / Jasmine Jones
Kaysha Love / Azaria Hill
Elana Meyers Taylor / Jadin O'Brien
"It feels surreal," Jones said in a recent newspaper article. "All of the hard work, dedication, and pure training I put in came together to make this team. The job's not done just yet, but I'm ready for what's to come."
Jones, a Hempfield High School graduate, trains and lives in Lake Placid, N.Y., a hub for U.S. sliding sports. The team gathers next in Igls, Austria, for a holding camp before traveling to Italy.
At age 29, Jones reached the Olympic stage after a steady climb through international bobsled competition. She serves as a push athlete in the two-woman sled, pairing with veteran pilot Kallie Armbruster Humphries. The role demands explosive starts, balance, and trust built through repetition.
Jones and Humphries strengthened their Olympic case with a World Cup victory in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The race took place on the world's only natural ice bobsled track, a venue known for rewarding clean starts and precision.
"I had a feeling I would be named based off of performance over the season," Jones said. "But, hearing it in that moment made it real and official. I just felt stunned that I actually did it: I made my first Olympic team."
The selection followed months of evaluation by the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation during the World Cup season. Athletes earned points through results, consistency, and execution under pressure.
Jones arrived at bobsled with a decorated sprint background. At Eastern Michigan, she was a five-time individual Mid-American Conference champion. 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 First Team All-MAC 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.J Jones also attained First Team All-American honors for her performance at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships, assisting the distance medley relay team to a seventh-place finish with a time of 11:04.81, which remains the school record today.
"Jasmine's strong work ethic, competitive spirit, and toughness led her to a very successful career in our program and it's no surprise to see those same qualities pay off in her Bobsled endeavors," said coach Sue Parks. "We are very proud of her and excited that will be representing EMU and the USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics."
"Jasmine has always been the type of athlete every coach dreams of," said Jones' event coach, Chris Best. "Whatever goals she set out for herself she would always put forth the work to get it done. When she had that first phone call with current USA Bobsled member Elana Meyers Taylor; the excitement she had for this new endeavor after her track career was through the roof. Once Jasmine has her mind set to something there's no stopping her, and for her to accomplish this comes to no surprise because of who she is. I'm so proud of her and can't wait to watch her compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics" Best concluded.
Her rise began earlier at Hempfield, where she claimed WPIAL Class 3A titles in the 200 and 400. Those sprint skills translated well to bobsled, a sport built around acceleration. Crews rely on a powerful running start before loading into the sled and racing through tight curves at speeds near 90 mph.
Jones joins a list of elite sprinters who found success on ice. Lauryn Williams won Olympic silver in the two-woman bobsled in 2014. Lolo Jones also crossed from hurdles to bobsled on the world stage.
Eastern Michigan Athletics enters the Winter Olympic spotlight for the first time, while EMU track and field owns a long Olympic history with representation in every Summer Games since 1960.
EMU Olympians include Hayes Jones in 1960 and 1964, Dave Ellis in 1968, Hasely Crawford and Tony Nelson in 1972, Crawford and Deby Lansky LaPlante in 1976, Crawford in 1980, Earl Jones and Crawford in 1984, Tommy Asinga in 1988 and 1992, Paul McMullen, Asinga, Greg Rhymer, Sevatheda Fynes, and Clement Chukwu in 1996, Chukwu, Nduka Awazie, Fabian Rollins, and Fynes in 2000, Jamie Nieto in 2004, Sasha Springer-Jones in 2008, Eric Alejandro and Nieto in 2012, Alejandro in 2016, and Donald Scott in 2020 and 2024.
Olympic Bobsleigh Schedule: 2-woman
Feb. 17 - Official Training
Feb. 18 - Official Training
Feb. 19 - Official Training
Feb. 20 - Heats 1 & 2
Feb. 21 - Heats 3 & 4
Full schedule can be viewed here.
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games officially open Feb. 6 and will air on NBC, streaming live on Peacock.
EMU's Track and Field Olympic Athletes
1960 - Hayes Jones
1964 - Hayes Jones
1968 - Dave Ellis
1972 - Hasely Crawford, Tony Nelson
1976 - Hasely Crawford, Deby Lansky LaPlante
1980 - Hasely Crawford
1984 - Earl Jones, Hasely Crawford
1988 - Tommy Asinga
1992 - Tommy Asinga
1996 - Paul McMullen, Tommy Asinga, Greg Rhymer, Sevatheda Fynes, Clement Chukwu
2000 - Clement Chukwu, Nduka Awazie, Fabian Rollins, Sevatheda Fynes
2004 - Jamie Nieto
2008 - Sasha Springer-Jones
2012 - Eric Alejandro, Jamie Nieto
2016 - Eric Alejandro
2020 - Donald Scott
2024 – Donald Scott
2026 - Jasmine Jones (winter - bobsled)
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games officially open Feb. 6 and will air on NBC, streaming live on Peacock.
EMU's Track and Field Olympic Athletes
1960 - Hayes Jones
1964 - Hayes Jones
1968 - Dave Ellis
1972 - Hasely Crawford, Tony Nelson
1976 - Hasely Crawford, Deby Lansky LaPlante
1980 - Hasely Crawford
1984 - Earl Jones, Hasely Crawford
1988 - Tommy Asinga
1992 - Tommy Asinga
1996 - Paul McMullen, Tommy Asinga, Greg Rhymer, Sevatheda Fynes, Clement Chukwu
2000 - Clement Chukwu, Nduka Awazie, Fabian Rollins, Sevatheda Fynes
2004 - Jamie Nieto
2008 - Sasha Springer-Jones
2012 - Eric Alejandro, Jamie Nieto
2016 - Eric Alejandro
2020 - Donald Scott
2024 – Donald Scott
2026 - Jasmine Jones (winter - bobsled)
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