Targeted training keyed Day’s rise

Chris Yemma

Jasmin Day’s family lineage more than subtly hinted at her becoming a

high jumper.

Her sister, Sharon, was a two-time state champion in the event in

2002 and ’03 while attending Costa Mesa High. Her brother, Louis,

competed in the event for Mesa, graduating in 2001. And her mother

and father met participating in the event for their colleges on the

East Coast numerous years ago.

Naturally, the spring in Day’s step was just something she

inherited.

But it was her practice this season, a different training routine

geared more toward that specific event, that helped the Costa Mesa

junior finish second at the CIF State track and field championships

Saturday at Sacramento City College, after an eighth-place finish the

year before.

“Her training this year has been a little more intense,” said

Eugene Day, her father and Costa Mesa’s high jump coach. “It has

involved a lot of sprinting work and less endurance to help her

quickness.”

The younger Day cleared 5 feet, 9 inches in Sacramento on her

second attempt to finish behind Stockdale’s Desirae Gonder, who

cleared the same height on her first attempt for the difference.

The jump marked a vast improvement from one year ago, when Day

reached 5-5 for eighth in the state. She has been inching her way to

the widely-sought state crown, and with one year left, she could be

on pace.

“Next year, I think I’ll have a really good chance,” she said.

“I’m going to work hard to break my sister’s school record of 6-2.”

Sharon Day, who competes for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the high

jump, as well as soccer, won her 2003 state title with a 5-10 leap,

just a few weeks after clearing 6-2 for the top mark in the nation

then. She won state with 5-11 the year before. Sharon has since gone

on to clear 6-3 1/2 , currently the fourth-best in the world.

Jasmin, who also helped lead the Mustangs soccer team to a CIF

Southern Section Division III quarterfinal appearance, has her

sister’s school record in her crosshairs. The younger Day has grabbed

numerous accolades this year, including high jump titles in the

Golden West League, CIF Division III and the Southern Section Masters

Meet.

And she was just one attempt off a shared state title. Both

juniors, though, Day and state champion Gonder will likely be

battling again next year for the crown.

“We’re trying for six feet,” Eugene Day said.

“She has the ability, it just depends on what she wants to do.” In

addition to her soccer and track and field accolades this year,

Jasmin helped lead the cross country team to a league title with her

second-place finish at the league finals. She went on to finish 19th

in Division III at the CIF State cross country championships in

Fresno.