By Don Ketchum

The wind cascades down the Estrella Mountains and increases in speed across the surrounding desert.

One of these days, Jasmin Pratt just might catch it.

She creates quite a breeze of her own.

Pratt, a senior at Goodyear Estrella Foothills, is the state’s top Division III sprinter and one of the best overall. She is a three-time state champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and two-time winner in the 400. She also competes in the 4x400 relay.

She has been limited this spring by knee tendinitis, but that appears to be behind her now as she gets ready to apply the finishing kick to her career and propel her to the collegiate level.

“I’m so happy. I feel a lot better now,’’ she said. “When it happened, I thought, “Oh, my gosh . . . are you kidding me? This is not happening. This is my senior year.’ But I told myself that I was going to get through this, and I did.’’

Pratt has reached this point with her own drive and rigorous rehabilitation that has helped keep her in shape, and the words of advice and motivation from her coach, Eureka Hall.

Hall knows what it takes. She set the Class 3A record in the 100 (11.82 seconds) and 200 (23.70) at Safford High in 1992, and an overall state record in the 400 (52.99).

“My expectations for her are high and her expectations are high,’’ Hall said. “I see a little bit of me in her. She has confidence in herself and is starting to be involved in more intense training now as she gets ready for state. She knows what she needs to do.’’

The injury most affected Pratt while coming out of the blocks. She has limited that work while she heals, working on other aspects of her technique. She is ready to re-incorporate the blocks.

“I want to be better,’’ Pratt said. “Coach says my times are good, but they need to be better. I’m not as fast as I could be, particularly if you’re looking at collegiate-type times, which I am going to need.’’

She played basketball as a junior, but decided not to play this year to concentrate on her sprinting.

As Hall said, Pratt has a great deal of self-confidence.

“I tell myself, “I am Jasmin and I am good at what I do,’ ’’ Pratt said.

“At the finish of each race, I think, “I just did something so amazing,’ especially considering some of the times I had two years ago and what I have now. It’s sort of like I consider myself like a superhero, you know, “They (others) can’t do what I can.’ ’’

Before each race, she gathers her thoughts, although not to the point of being too analytical.

“I also pray, thank God for getting me to this point and ask to do well in the race,’’ she said.

Pratt has a 3.9 grade-point average. Her favorite subject is science, and she will be taking more biology courses in college because she wants to become a heart surgeon.

All the schoolwork and practice on the track doesn’t leave much for other activities, but Pratt enjoys helping out with community projects at her church. One of her favorite things recently was to help kids color Easter eggs.

There have been some tough, painful times, but Pratt has a tough shell. And as the state meet approaches, she isn’t about to crack.

She has to keep running, running like the wind.