Republic’s Douglas double qualifies for state track competition

Republic’s track and field team qualified for state in two events this year — and sophomore Jasmyn Douglas is a part of both of them. Douglas first qualified as a member of the 4x800m relay team, which finished fourth at sectionals in Waynesville. She followed that up by finishing second to qualify in the individual 800m run.
Delaney Smith, Jazzy Kirby, and Jade Kirby join Douglas on the 4x800m team. They qualified with a time of 10:19.28, with Douglas cruising on the final lap to reserve energy for her solo run later in the day.
In her individual race, Douglas finished just three-tenths of a second behind Ozark’s Brocklyn Barber, whom Douglas had beaten last week to win the district championship. Douglas posted a time of 2:22.19.
They ran the race in a strong wind that was in their faces on the backstretch and at their backs heading toward the finish. “It was horrible,” Douglas said of the wind afterward. “I was running down that last [back stretch] and she tried to pass me, and... it took literally everything to go. It was so bad.”
Douglas and Barber will meet again at the state meet after two close races during the past two weeks. Douglas says having a close competitor makes her better.
“It helps me a ton, whether she’s in front of me or behind me, just knowing she’s right there and you have to give it 100 [percent] the whole time,” Douglas said.
The Republic relay team will compete on Friday morning in Jefferson City. Douglas’ indi- vidual race is set for Saturday afternoon.