Jasmine Stauffacher Gray has been a force in Arizona track over the past three season, and looks to finish her senior season the same way! Arizona Milesplit Photo.
Name: Jasmine Stauffacher Gray
High School: North Canyon High School
Signed with: UCLA
You are very talented in a lot of events, have you spoken with the staff at UCLA about what they will want to specialize you in?
I have yes! We haven't decided which event I will be better at collegiately, so at this point I will be focusing on both the hurdles and the 400! It helps that the two events are so intertwined, that it won't be too difficult to move from one on to the other. Also I'll be adding in the indoor season next year so that factors in...stay tuned to find out lol!
UCLA is a prestigious school! What do you intend to study and do afterwards?
I plan on majoring in Communications and Public Relations and then hopefully I'll be able to get into the Anderson School of Management (business school) and going from there!
What has been your favorite high school running memory (so far)?
My favorite high school running memory, actually does not involve me running at all. This cross country season one of my coaches (Coach G) and I went to surprise my best friend Ali Kallner at her district cross country meet. When we showed up she was totally shocked and crying tears of joy (I hope) at seeing us, and then she went out and killed her race, it was awesome. A close second is Bobby Grant ordering a dozen cookies the night before New Balance Nationals and disproving the idea that you can't eat poorly the night before a race... he went US #2 the next day.
I am sure you had more than one scholarship offer, what was the deciding factor when choosing UCLA?
People always say that when you're choosing a school when you walk on the campus you can just feel if you fit or not, and when I walked onto UCLA's campus I had that feeling. The campus is absolutely amazing and the people give off such a positive vibe. Academically, it is very prestigious so I know that I will have the opportunity to develop both on and off the track. Athletically, the coaching staff is incredible, I couldn't be more excited to work with Coach Hayes and the amazing team developing there. Oh, and did I mention there was a Roscoes Chicken n Waffles, 10 minutes away from campus?
What is one thing you still have on your wish list to accomplish while in high school?
Through track I've had the opportunity to do so many amazing things throughout high school. I think in these last few months of high school I just really want to influence someone or something, I want to really leave my mark here because I'm not really sure what will happen once I leave for college. I think I've done almost all of what high school has to offer so I think all that's left now is to help make someone else's experience better, however that may be.
