If not for the coronavirus pandemic, track and field events at the 2020 Olympics wouldve started Friday.

Former Mansfield Lake Ridge star Jasmine Moore had aspirations to compete in Tokyo.

Building on a dazzling high school tenure, when she won nine career state championships, set national records and earned international recognition, Moore shined during her freshman 2019-20 season at Georgia.

Her season-best mark of 21 feet, 2.75 inches in long jump ranked fifth in the nation during the indoor season and was the eighth longest in Georgia history. Moores season-best triple jump -- 45 feet, 7.25 inches -- led all NCAA competitors and ranked No. 2 all-time at Georgia.

Moore won the triple jump and finished second in the long jump at the SEC Championships en route to becoming the SEC Womens Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year. She qualified for the NCAA indoor championships in both events before that competition and outdoor season were canceled amid the pandemic.

Moore, 19, adding more than nine inches to her triple jump distance less than a year after establishing a national high school record (44 feet, 10 inches) in her final UIL meet showcased the progress she hoped would help her clinch a berth to the Olympics this summer.

Because of the postponement, Olympic track and field events are now scheduled to start a year from Thursday -- July 30, 2021. In a recent interview with The Dallas Morning News, Moore reflected on her adjustment to college, her training amid the pandemic and her hopes for the upcoming year.

Her answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Looking back on your last year, how was your adjustment at Georgia as a freshman?

Moore: At first, the adjustment was kind of hard, being away from my parents and by myself and meeting so many new people. As far as training, it was a lot harder, and I wasnt used to having every day as a competition, and it was really intense. I would say the first three months I definitely struggled. After Thanksgiving break was when I started to get more into my groove.

What was especially challenging?

Moore: As far as training, my food. Obviously at home with your parents, my mom always cooked. Being at school, it was tough because you dont always have time to go to the dining hall and maybe they dont have the best options for you. I tried to balance cooking and fueling my body with appropriate stuff so I could have good performances and not slack. It shows a lot more in college at practice.

School was just a lot harder, too. In high school, you didnt have to study as much for tests or you didnt have as much homework, but in college, thats not going to fly. And Im really close with my parents, so not being with them and seeing them a lot, I was definitely homesick freshman year a lot.

What helped you improve in track to make such big strides in one year?

Moore: I still struggle with confidence a little bit, but basically everybody in the NCAA, Ive either competed against them in high school or international competition, so Ive been in the same boat before. Everyones in school. Everyone has practice. Everyones tired, so I had to stop feeling bad for myself, and that was when I was like, OK, obviously, I was a top recruit coming out of high school, so the expectations for you are pretty high and your expectations for yourself are pretty high, so just lets do it.

Around the same time NCAA canceled the rest of track and field season was when officials made the decision to postpone the Olympics. What was your reaction to that?

Moore: Honestly, as soon as we got sent home from Georgia and we really couldnt go back to school, I was happy they postponed just because it was so hard to practice at home due to all the circumstances with the closed gyms and not being able to do exactly everything how your coach has you at school.

Everything is so structured. Everything is so organized, and going from that to home and trying to practice and have the same intensity, it just wasnt there for me, so I was hoping that it would happen. Im kind of young in my event, so this is great that I have another year to work harder and develop more as an athlete.

What are the benefits of an extra year for you?

Moore: Definitely just to get my technique down a little bit more. Like I said, I am still pretty young in my event, so that will be beneficial to get stronger. Freshman year, I was all over the place because everything was so new that I was driving myself a little crazy. I dont think my practices were as great as they couldve been, so itll be nice now since Im able to get a hold of everything and its not so new anymore.

What does training for you look like during the pandemic?

Moore: Im actually in Georgia right now because my lease started for my house, so Im like, If Im paying, I might as well live here. Our tracks open, but were not able to train with our coaches and our team right now, so that part kind of sucks. My coach said whenever school starts back, well be able to. There will be a lot of new rules as far as being able to train when it comes to the virus and everything like that. Things will be looking a little bit different, but Im sure that well still be able to still get the work in that we need to, especially coming up on an Olympic year.

How do you push yourself every day to stay on top of that with no formal coaching?

Moore: I have more discipline here. I know Im in Georgia to go to school and go to practice, versus when Im at home, its easier to get distracted. I have to stay accountable for myself. The good thing is all the girls who I live with, theyre on the track team as well, so were able to do our workouts, and my trainers sent me exercises on my phone, so I do rehab with videos.

Do you let yourself think about what this summer mightve looked like in a normal, alternate universe?

Moore: We still had all of our events on our family calendar. It was like, Oh, supposed to be in Austin right now for NCAA championships, supposed to be in Oregon for Olympic Trials. That parts been kind of sad because I do think about what it couldve been. Either this couldve been a really good moment for me if I made the Olympic team, or else Id be really sad if I didnt. I dont want to have the disappointment, so thats why Im trying my best to stay on top of everything right now.

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Link:

Ex-Lake Ridge star Jasmine Moore talks progress, motivation a year before track & field starts at Tokyo - The Dallas Morning News