No matter how far she jumps, Jasmine Claunch always wants to do better. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Former Mercer County track standout Jasmine Claunch sets a high bar for herself so even when she broke three Centre College records in her first outdoor meet this season, the junior was not ready to pat herself on the back.
She set a new mark in the long jump (18 feet, 7 1/4 inches), triple jump (38-8 3/4 — a mark she beat in the next meet) and 4×100-meter relay. She’s ranked at the top of the Southern Athletic Association in both jumps and among the Division III national leaders in both as well.
“I do get satisfied by really good performances but I am never content,” said Claunch, a two-time state triple jump champion at Mercer and one-time long jump champion. “I always want to at least match my PR (personal record). Getting a new PR is always the goal. My biggest thing is just to always be competitive but also have fun at the same time.”
She’s had to learn to deal with adversity. She lost her high school senior track season to COVID. She started her collegiate career at Murray State but for several reasons transferred to Centre after one season.
If that wasn’t enough, she tore her Achilles tendon last spring in a freak practice workout.
“This time last year I was on the sideline just watching. I have really learned to appreciate just competing and being happy. God has let me recover and get back to where I can compete and contribute to our team,” Claunch said. “I am enjoying the ride.
“I feel like I am physically back 100 percent. I am still just working out the kinks and getting adjusted to outdoor competition again. I am still perfecting my craft and figuring out what best suits me as a jumper. I have been pretty lucky in my recovery because it is a 9-12 month recovery period usually. I started competing in January which was about two months short of a year (from the injury). I was just happy to be back and able to qualify for (indoor) nationals.”
At the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in March, Claunch broke her previous school record in the triple jump, claiming her second consecutive All-America honor. Claunch went 39-8 1/2 to finish second in the 2021 meet. This March she went 39-10 to place fourth.
Claunch and her teammates will compete in the SAA Championships this weekend hosted by Centre and she believes the Colonels can definitely compete for the team title.
“It’s hard to ever know for sure about conference until you see who is competing in what event. We don’t have a lot of girls on the sprint and jump side but we have enough and have a lot of other talented girls. I feel we definitely have the potential to win,” Claunch said.
She’s happy to be part of the 4×100 relay team along with Caroline Davis, Shelby Smith and Madjo Doumbia.
“We have two jumpers and two sprinters,” Claunch said. “I had not taken a hand-off senior my high school junior season and I had never given a hand-off. In high school I was always the anchor but here I am the second leg. It’s something new to learn and it’s exciting and fun and also helps our team hopefully.”
Her ultimate goal is to win a national championship May 25-27 in Indianapolis.
“In track and field, it’s all about who shows up on that given day. It does matter what you did prior to that day because that’s how you qualify for nationals, but that day it is all about who has the best performance that one day,” she said. “I know the work I put in and I trust that will lead me to where I need to be.
“One of the hardest parts is just qualifying for nationals. Division III is more competitive than most people realize. Just making it to that big stage is like a victory in itself. I want some more good jumps to make sure I secure my spot. All it takes is one big jump in March and you can make nationals in May. I am in there now but a lot could still happen.”
However, Claunch won’t deny what winning a national championship would mean to her.
“It would be awesome,” she said. “Winning a national championship would be amazing. I am focused on just doing my best to get there and have that opportunity. You have to stay invested in competing with yourself. Winning is fun but winning is not everything. I just want to do my best, get a PR and wherever that lands me will be fine.
“But it would be awesome to win. I won’t deny that. That’s what you dream about as an athlete and I hope I have the chance to make that dream come true.”
