Jeff Curry/Washington University

Junior Jasmine Wright (second from left) lines up before racing an 100 meter dash at Francis Field. (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Wright)

Junior Jasmine Wright has entered her third track season at WashU with a bang. Wright was recently named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Athlete of the Week and just took first at the John Croft Invitational with a time of 7.71 seconds in the 60-meter dash. Wright sat down with Student Life to discuss how her team pushes her to do better, her goals for the future, and what songs she’s bumping before a meet. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Student Life (SL): Just a few days ago, you placed first at the John Croft Invitational in the 60-meter dash. How does it feel to be performing at this level so early into the season?

Jasmine Wright (JW): Definitely nice […] coming back from break and from the fall season, to set myself up really good for the rest of the season. I think being able to have a good time set already gives me a little bit of wiggle room in terms of later on the season, just to relax, but obviously still improve. But there’s not as much pressure. 

SL: This is your second “Athlete of the Week” this week — you were just named UAA Women’s Indoor Track AOTW. What does that mean to you?

JW: It’s nice to get recognition. I don’t need it, but it’s always fun to get recognized for your work. 

SL: When did you first start running, and how has your relationship with the sport changed since then? 

JW: I started running in middle school, but definitely got more serious in high school. It was always a fun thing to do, but my high school was also pretty competitive in terms of the level of practice. I think I’ve been around other athletes who are also really talented, and most of my track career has been so good because they’ve been able to push me and make me better. 

SL: How did you find out about WashU, and what was your recruitment process like?

JW: My dad actually went to WashU, and he played soccer when he was here a long time ago. I’d always had WashU in the back of my mind — I was looking at other schools, but Division III is really ideal, given how I wanted to still have that academic rigor but have the opportunity to do track. I knew WashU was a great team, so I think it was the perfect balance between academics and athletics. 

SL: Track is a unique sport because you train every day with the same group of women, but when you’re competing, you’re mostly doing it as an individual athlete. How do you see the balance between track as a team sport and an individual one?

JW: You’re always working together, you’re always pushing each other, whether that’s at practice or at a meet. A lot of the time, you’ll be racing with people on your team at a meet, so I kind of think of it as practice sometimes, where you’re there to make each other better. I think everyone has that mindset, in the back of their mind, of wanting to beat someone. But again, it’s just fun to be around everyone, and it’s a good environment where we all want to push each other but. you know, you’re doing your best work for yourself. 

SL: You’re not just a one-event athlete— you run distances from 60 to 200 meters, you run relay events, and you even do the high jump. How did you get into doing that?

JW: I had done the high jump maybe once or twice in high school and thought, “Oh, it would be fun to try again in college.” It’s definitely fun in practice, but being at a meet, it’s pretty challenging logistically to be a multi-event athlete, so, props to the people who can do that, But I was doing a jump or two and had to run back to do a prelim. 

SL: What’s your favorite event to race?

JW: Anything short! But definitely the 60-meter dash. You go, you start, and the next thing you know, you blink and you’re done. It’s nice to have it go by that fast. 

SL: Recently, I saw a video of Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas running two miles, where she said that even running a full mile was crazy and unusual for her as a sprinter. When you train, are you ever doing longer distances?

JW: For me, it’s really anything short. Our sprint group is up to a 400-meter run, so occasionally I’ll do a little bit of a longer distance, but my focus is definitely short stuff. 

SL: Last year, at the NCAA Championship, you got sixth in the 60-meter race. With the next championship just under two months away, take me through the process of getting ready for that meet and any goals you might have this time around. 

JW: I think again, setting myself up for success early on, like you mentioned initially. Starting off having a really good time sort of having solidified already. But [I am] still going out every meet thinking, “This is another opportunity to improve my time,” even though I might already be set to be in the meet. I still think, “Oh there’s always [an] opportunity to improve,” whether that’s practice or especially in a meet. I think Conference is another big one for me as well, because a lot of the people there might also be at the national meet. 

SL: Over a year from now, when you’re wrapping up your senior year at WashU as an athlete, what is one goal you hope you’ll have accomplished? 

JW: I definitely would say enjoying the time while I’m here and not taking it for granted. It might seem monotonous to go to a meet every week, and obviously it’s always really fun, but just making sure I enjoy the people, because I know I won’t ever have the same thing and be in the same environment as I am right now. 

SL: What are some of the songs on your pre-meet playlist? 

JW: Honestly, one of my favorite bands right now is Aqua, so I need ‘90s pop — super catchy, gets me really energized and ready. 

SL: When you’re not running, what can people find you doing? 

JW: Definitely cooking, and doing my Legos — my favorite activities. And it kind of translates to track with cooking — I feel like nutrition and recovery are so important and definitely a big focus for me. 

SL: What do you like to cook? 

JW: Honestly, anything. I’m a big fan of dinner stuff, so I make a lot of different types of chicken. I recently made some tacos, and I’m just trying a lot of new stuff. 

SL: The last question is one we ask all Student Life Athletes of the Week. Would you rather have fish for hands or adopt a child every time you hear “Bohemian Rhapsody”?

JW: [I’d] definitely say fish for hands, because you could still run with fish for hands, and I could pick up swimming. Maybe have a little snack. 

2024-25 Athlete of the Week Tracker: Adopt a child: 1. Fish for hands: 3.