Courtesy of Coppin State Athletic Communications
A four-year performer for the Eagles, Jasmine Henery was in the midst of her best collegiate season before the season was abruptly cut short due to COVID-19. Opening the season with a PR of 58.00 at the HBCU Battle, Henery consistently shaved time off her times in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dash and clocked a 24.84 in the 200 meters at the Albany Winter Classic. Henery also helped the 4x400-meter relay to its fifth-fastest time in school-history in 3:46.77. To cap off her season, Henery finished fourth at the MEAC Championships in the 400 meters in a personal-record 55.89, which is the fourth-fastest time in program history, while also helping the Eagles to a bronze medal finish in the 4x400-meter relay (3:49.38).
Q: Why did you choose Coppin State?
Since I reside in Brooklyn, N.Y., Coppin State was close to home and it has one of the best nursing programs.
Q: What is your major and what would you like to do with it after graduation?
I am majoring in Health Science with a minor in Biology. After graduation I will be enrolled in a Physician Assistant school to obtain my Master's and become a Physician Assistant.
Q: Are there any professors, faculty or staff members at Coppin that have made a lasting impact on you (who and why)?
Dr. Holman and Dr. (Irving) Smith both made a lasting impact on me. Dr. Holman is one of my Health Science professors and she built a strong "professor to student" relationship with me outside of academics. Dr. Smith is my advisor for Health Sciences and he always referred to himself as the grandfather of all the Health Sciences students. He is a great person to talk to about academics and anything else that may occur outside of school. He taught me how to be punctual and how important it is to be my best every day in every aspect. Both of my coaches made an impact on me as well.
Q: Did you play any other sports growing up and what made you decide on track & field? Who were your favorite athletes growing up and why?
Growing up I started playing tennis for a while and did a lot of competitive dancing although it is not considered a sport. I didn't start track until I was a freshman in High School because my coach at the time always believed I would be a great hurdler due to my long legs. I never really had a favorite athlete growing up either.
Q: What was your favorite memory from running track at Coppin State?
My favorite memory from running track at Coppin State was this past indoor MEAC Championship when I ran a new PR of 55 seconds in the 400m which is currently the 4th fastest time in Coppin State's track & field history.
Q: Is there anything that you have learned so far in regards to this global epidemic with COVID-19 and will it cause you to change anything in your life?
This pandemic has taught me that history really does repeat itself and to be mindful that everything can change in a blink of an eye. I had a lot of goals in motion for Spring 2020 that had to be put on pause, but everything happens for a reason and this drastic change still doesn't change the goals I have set for myself.
Q: What are songs that are on your Quarantine Playlist?
I'm more of an old school reggae type of girl when a crisis occurs since that's what I grew up on but some of the other songs on my Quarantine playlist include:
Calboy - Chariot
Roddy Ricch - War Baby
Calboy - Ghetto America
... and much more.
Q: The NCAA Committee has voted to give eligibility relief to all student-athletes who participate in spring sports. What does getting an extra year to run track mean to you?
An extra year to run track means I will be able to finish what I started while continuing the goals I had started in Spring 2020. This gives me the opportunity to be better than I was before my outdoor season was canceled.