Records are meant to be broken, but championships can never be taken away.
Jasmine Stauffacher Gray accomplished something truly special this season. She became a four time defending state champion in the 400m. Not very many people can claim that. In fact, by my count, no other athlete in the state could claim that this season. During the regular season you would be hard pressed to find another athlete that won as many invitational titles on Arizona soil as her either. For her efforts she has been named the D1 Girls Arizona athlete of the year.
“This has been the best season of my life. I was really able to have fun and let loose and just go out and compete,” recounted Jasmine on the season. Compete she has, seeing as how she has consistently won race after race in both the 300H and the 400m. For those of you that know Jasmine, you know she is all about her teammates and the season would not have been the same without her friends, “Seeing the laughs and the smiles of my teammates and knowing that I was a part of that made me so genuinely happy.“ In many ways if you just met her on the street you probably wouldn’t guess she is in high school (I guess at the time of this publication she technically isn’t anymore), or how far she has come. She comes across as someone who is very confident and happy.
It wasn’t always that way. As a freshman she was intimidated going into the Chandler Rotary Invitational, but track has taught her to overcome her fears. “Through track I have learned that physically I am capable of doing so many things but that mentally I am even stronger than I think. I’ve really learned what it means for God to have a plan for my life and to see it in action, taking everything as it comes.” On the track it is easy to praise Jasmine for her ability, but of the track she is a genuinely humble and kind young lady. I think this is evidenced best in her own words, “I really want to say thank you to everyone across the state for the love and support you’ve given me over the past four years. Arizona track and field has helped shape me into the person I am today and I could not be more grateful. Over the past few years I have made the best of friends and had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and build such great relationships. From the people who simply say “good luck” or “good job” to the Ali Kallner’s of the world who are always by my side, I want to say thank you. I wish everyone the best of luck going into the next season and I hope to come home and see you all wearing blue and gold [Editors Note Jasmine is a UCLA commit]….a girl can dream right?”
Honorable Mention:
Dani Jones: Arguably the most well-known girls runner from Arizona on a national level. She had a fantastic senior season lowering her own 1600m state record and snagging the 3200m record as well.
Nikki Baker: The state record holder in the pole vault was finally able to snag a state title. I could not think of a better way for a senior to go out!