Wayne Native Named to Olympic Bobsled Team

Resident Jazmine Fenlator has been named to the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team.

Fenlator is one of three drivers on the team that will head to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia next month. The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (BSF) announced the team Sunday.

Fenlator excelled at track and field while attending Wayne Valley High School. She has found success on the bobsled run as well. She is ranked seventh in the international bobsled driver standings.

Fenlator and track and field Olympian Lolo Jones were paired at two-women events earlier this season. Jones has been nominated to be a push athlete on the team. Driver and pusher pairings will be announced at a later date, the BSF announced.

Fenlator has dealt with a lot of adversity in recent years. Her home was flooded in September 2011 with Tropical Storm Irene hit North Jersey and her mother was forced to live in a hotel for three months.

Her mother suffers from Lupus, a degenerative autoimmune disease.

“Shout out 2 my Mom 4 being the strongest person I’ve ever known. I have faith 2014 will turn around for the better. Keep pushing thru,” Fenlator posted on Twitter Jan. 16.

Fenlator gave credit to her Wayne Valley coaches for encouraging her work hard and push herself physically.

“Gavin Bannet, Brian O’Connor, Doug Flower, and Patrick Slater, they were all very motivating,” Fenlator previously said. “They told me that I had a lot of skill and potential. They never told me I couldn’t do t. They reminded me the bigger picture.”

The women’s Olympic bobsled heats will be held Feb. 18 and 19.

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