Meet The Sun Devils: Jacob Flores

Junior Jacob Flores (Tempe, Ariz./Seton Catholic HS/Mesa CC)

2014 NJCAA outdoor pole vault champion Jacob Flores joined Arizona State this year from Mesa Community College. Flores also played third at the NJCAA Indoor Championships last season, and was a 2012 team captain for the Seton Catholic High School track and field teams.

Why did you choose Arizona State University?
When I was looking at schools, I decided that ASU would be the best of me, both for my major program, as well as to be able to still train and compete in the sport that I love.

How did your family react to your college decision?
They were very happy and excited for me, and were very supportive.

When did you begin competing and why?
I began competing the spring of my freshman year of high school. I played football in the fall, and it was an awful mistake, and I had tried out for the basketball team and got cut, so I decided to go out and try track, because it was something totally new to me. Also, pole vaulting sounded like a lot of fun.

When did you realize you could compete at the Division I level?
This past March, we (Mesa Community College) hosted NJCAA Outdoor Nationals, and I PR’ed by four inches, placing first to take the national title, and at that point I thought that I could make some major improvements if I was able to go on and compete at the next level.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
It would have to be a tie between winning outdoor nationals at MCC last year, and being accepted as a walk-on to the ASU track team.

What is one weakness that you’d like to improve moving forward?
I would like to improve my strength, because I came into the program weak, and I still feel week, but I’m lifting a lot more weight than I used to, which is very helpful in pole vaulting.

Have you decided on a major?
Exercise and wellness.

What is your dream job?
I would love to coach track and field and/or be an official.

Is there any other athlete, either professional or collegiate, that inspires you?
Tons of names come to mine, both professional and collegiate people who inspire me, but I am inspired most of all by my teammates, because we are all there to help each other, and to grow as a team and family. I know that they are out there working just as hard as I am to make it happen.

Aside from track, what is your favorite sport?
The first sport that I really loved was basketball, and I still love it a lot.

Athletes have strict diet regimens, but if there is one food you can not live without, what is it?
If I didn’t eat healthy, I would probably eat In-N-Out every single day of my life.

What is on your iPod right now?
The Space Jam Theme Song by the Quad City DJ’s.

If you could be on the cover of any magazine, which would it be?
National Geographic