Track and field is an individual sport masquerading as a team sport at the college level. Even at scored meets, or championship meets, the focus is on putting the individual’s best foot forward.
In her four years as a jumper and sprinter for the Oregon Ducks, Jamesha Youngblood has eschewed that tradition to establish herself in a different fashion. She’s a team player in an individual sport.
“She’s a pretty good leader. She likes to give us motivational talks during practice and try to get everybody together,” said fellow senior Mandy White. “Just a good person to have on our team.”
Youngblood will receive her degree in Family and Human Services in June. She leaves Oregon with five school records (long jump indoors, long jump outdoors, triple jump outdoors, 4x100m relay outdoors, 4x400m relay indoors) and six All-America honors; she figures to add to the latter number at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships next week. @@http://www.facebook.com/pages/Family-and-Human-Services-at-the-University-of-Oregon/168077533212734@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1279852@@
Youngblood exudes an irreverent, happy-go-lucky personality. Her penchant for getting legal or high marks at the last possible moment has led Ducks associate head coach Robert Johnson to joke that she is responsible for his gray hairs. She is an active presence on Twitter (@Lovely_Jamesha), engaging followers in serious issues and stream of consciousness alike. @@http://twitter.com/#!/Lovely_Jamesha@@
Nevertheless, there exists an intensely competitive side to her demeanor. Teammates credit her “This is our time” speech before the Pacific-10 Conference Championships as the rallying cry for obtaining a third-straight conference championship this season, and competing for a national title at NCAA outdoors.
“She told us she wanted all of us to challenge ourselves because she didn’t want to be the only one making NCAAs,” said freshman sprinter English Gardner. “She wanted more people in (than) last year, more people in than the year before, that we come in to nationals together as a team and not a select group of individuals.
“I think, by far, that was the most powerful thing she’s said all season. She’s really stepped up, taking the captain role and fulfilled her title.”
Gardner, the Voorhees, N.J., native and current 100-meter school record holder, has developed a special bond with Youngblood. The freshman considers herself “Baby Youngblood” to the senior’s mother-like figure.
“She’s always looking out for me, always has my back,” Gardner said. “Whenever I feel down in practice she’s always there to talk to me, to keep me focused, telling me, ‘Don’t worry about all these people talking and doing this and doing that.’ She’s always had faith in me from the beginning.”
Upon graduation and the completion of her collegiate track and field career, Youngblood will be accepting a new role beyond her status as a triple-jump stalwart and sprint-relay specialist.
On a date yet to be determined, Youngblood will marry her boyfriend of three years, former Oregon football player Jerome Boyd. Boyd, an NFL safety, signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2009 and has one career appearance, with two tackles. @@http://www.raiders.com/team/roster/Jerome-Boyd/612e81e9-8a5d-4221-96ec-832a0d2a548b@@
On April 22 — two days before Youngblood’s 21st birthday — the couple was out walking Youngblood’s Chihuahua at the dog park in Alton Baker Park, across from Autzen Stadium.
“He tried to be a little creative by putting the ring on the dog’s collar,” Youngblood said. “I didn’t know at first, but as we were walking the dog, the ring falls off. I see it laying on the ground, and I was kicking it down the path. I was like, ‘Oh, look, we just found a ring!’
“We kept walking, and then he picks it up and then he starts looking at it. I was like, ‘Oh, is it real?’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s real.’ I was like ‘Oooh, cool! We found a ring!’ I was still completely and utterly oblivious to what’s going on.”
Boyd finally “got the courage” — Youngblood’s words — to drop to one knee and propose marriage. Youngblood laughed it off before realizing it was serious.
“I was like, ‘Shut up, you’re lying, get out of here,’” she said. “After 30 seconds, it finally hit me, and I was excited.”
The happy couple has not picked a time and place, and Youngblood wants no part in planning the details of a wedding until she has finished competing for the season. The impending nuptials don’t quite feel real, yet.
“I still feel like I have a boyfriend. I’m talking to people and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, today is my boyfriend’s birthday.’ They’re like, ‘He’s not your boyfriend, he’s your fiance,’” she said. “I’m still getting used to it.
“It’s still great though. I’m happy. That’s all that matters.”