Jerni Self

Photo by: Linda Brothers

Class:
Senior
Position:
Pole Vault
Hometown:
Cache, Okla.
Height:
5-4
High School:
Cache
Squadron:
40 Warhawks

JUNIOR YEAR | 2017-18: Became just the fourth athlete in Academy history to clear 13 feet in the outdoor pole vault... posted a career-best clearance of 13’0¼” to place second at the Air Force Twilight Open...that is the fourth-best clearance in program history...earned the Mountain West Field Athlete of the Week award following that meet...accounted for the program’s seventh-best outdoor clearance (12’7½”) during a sixth-place performance in the Premiere section of the Sun Angel Classic...cleared 12’10” to finish fourth at the MW Outdoor Championships...posted a season-best indoor clearance of 12’10¾” to score for Air Force at the MW Indoor Championships (fifth)...opened the season with a runner-up finish at the Air Force Holiday Open (12’5½”)...collected two additional top-five finishes on the year...earned the team’s Most Improved Athlete award.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2016-17: Impacted the Academy pole vault records during both the indoor and outdoor seasons...registered a career-best 12’11¾” to debut in fifth on the all-time indoor standings during a runner-up finish at the Air Force Collegiate Open...earned the team’s Field Athlete of the Week award after that meet...scored for the Falcons at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, after clearing 12’9½” to finish sixth...tied for first at the Air Force Invitational...earned three additional top-four finishes during the indoor season...posted an outdoor-best height of 12’4½” at the Air Force Twilight Open...that is the ninth-best clearance in the program’s outdoor history...earned three top-10 finishes during the outdoor season.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2015-16: Competed in the pole vault during nine meets...ranked third on the team during both the indoor and outdoor seasons...recorded a career-best clearance of 12’1½” at the Mountain West Indoor Championships...finished second in that event at the Rocky Mountain Classic (11’11¾”)...added a top-five finish at the Adams State Qualifier (fifth, 11’5¾”)...cleared an outdoor-best 11’10½” to finish third at the Air Force Twilight Open...earned runner-up honors at the Colorado Invitational (11’7¾”).

HIGH SCHOOL: Cache High School...two-time Oklahoma 4A state champion in the pole vault...won state titles as a junior and senior...finished second in that event as a freshman...recorded five clearances of 12 feet...earned all-state honors in gymnastics (2013)...graduated with honors.

PERSONAL: Full name is Jerni CarLee Self...nickname is “J$”...daughter of Neil and Cheryl Self...mother was a member of the gymnastics team at Texas Woman’s University...has one older brother...majoring in behavioral science...future plans include becoming a pilot...served as Alpha Flight Commander...member of the “500 Club” for recording a perfect score on the PFT...hobbies include finding little hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, drinking too much coffee, and debating about what time of the day is too late to drink coffee (“if ever”)...enjoys spending the weekends at a local gymnastics center to “relive the good ol’ days of when I did gymnastics, by swinging and flipping around”...loves spending time with family and friends...completed the Academy’s Powered Flight program over the summer (“loved every minute of it and it changed my mind about the career path I wanted to take”)...also traveled home during leave for some much-needed time with family and then served as an Assistant Flight Commander for the second session of Basic Cadet Training (“although a very demanding schedule, it is still one of the best opportunities to grow and learn from at the Academy”)...favorite scripture in Ephesians 3:20...loves coffee...favorite food is peanut butter...firmly believes that smiling can get you through anything...member of Cadet Squadron 40.