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Serving Rumford, Maine, and Neighboring Communities |
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| Jasmine Brooks taking her race walking to the next level |
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by Bob McPhee DIXFIELD -- An initial glance at the repetitive motion usually causes observes to cringe. However, Jasmine Brooks is confident that utilizing good form is a key to being able to become astute in race walking. The Dirigo High School student is continuing to make inroads while earning a respect in a quest to reach the next level. Despite being new to the sport, Brooks isn't allowing the inexperience to be a factor in the big picture. The junior has already plotted out a series of races to compete in throughout the United States. These competitions aren't being taken lightly and recent results have provided a strong degree of confidence. Earlier this month, Brooks ran in two one-mile races in two different states and proved she's fully capable of competing on the national scene. Brooks ran a personal best 7:41.97 to win the Nike Classic Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships at Landover, Maryland. There was little time to savor the win because another one-mile race was being held the next day. "I felt pretty confident," Brooks said, regarding the Nike race. "I was really nervous, but I was hoping that all the training I had been doing would pay off. During the race, I felt great. I just had to keep in mind to stay on my pace through out the entire race and stay focused. That's the most difficult thing for me to do sometimes." The second race in New York was the National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships and that was also one mile. Although Brooks finished fifth, the effort proved to be extremely rewarding. Brooks lowered her career best to 7:35.78. "After the race in Maryland, I was pumped and ready for New York," Brooks said. " I was still nervous, because there was more competition there." The back-to-back races and extra travel could have easily taken a toll on recovery time between events. Brooks was well aware of the potential short falls and consumed plenty of proteins in an effort to maintain a high energy level. Brooks didn't alter her routine or strategy utilized in the latter race. It's important to be prepared and focused. Brooks had become interested in race walking as a freshman and decided to try it. At the MVC championships last spring, she met Dr. Tom Eastler of Farmington. He expressed an interest in being her coach. "(Dr. Eastler) has brought me to a much higher level in the sport," Brooks said. "It's a lot higher than I thought possible. I train with him weekly." Brooks competes year round and has two races next month. The Junior National Invitational (10k) the l3th in Manassas, Virginia and Penn Relays (one mile) in Pennsylvania on the 27th. Brooks will run track for Dirigo and then enters the National Scholastic outdoor race in North Carolina on June 15. On June 24 she will go try out for the Junior National team in a 10k at Stanford University in Palo Alto California. Brooks had to qualify just to get to try out. The Junior Olympics are in July at Omaha Nebraska. "I concentrate on my pace and form," Brooks said. "I try to keep myself motivated mentally while in the race especially a long one. If you have good form, your most likely going to go faster and it will take less energy if you do it correctly. If you have improper form it will not hurt you." In race walking, you will either be walking slowly or running. There are rules about technique. A competitor can't lose contact with the ground, that's visible to the eye can occur. One foot on the ground at all times. The advancing leg must be straightened (no bend in the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until in the vertical position (when it's starting to move back behind the body). It's not hard on your joints because you are not running and landing hard and jolting your body as you do in running. Race walk consists of going at a fast pace, without actually running. It's as strenuous as running if not more. There are judges around the track to make sure each entrant adheres to proper form. |
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