‘Real, human, superheroes’: Jared Campbell hails a perfect role model in Jasmin Paris

Jared Campbell etched his own place in Barkley Marathons history last week – but writing about it afterwards appeared just as happy to have witnessed Jasmin Paris become the first woman to ever finish the infamous race.

American star Campbell became the first runner to complete all five loops of the brutal contest in Tennessee on four separate occasions.

And he was also responsible for one of the all-time great sporting gestures along the way.

‘Many of the very best human traits’

All of which is reflected in a moving Instagram post. Titled ‘Human spirit’, he said: “I am forever grateful to have had a front row seat at an event that vividly brings to the surface many of the very best human traits: passion, optimism, commitment, drive, risk taking.

“I am filled with the deepest sense of joy and satisfaction and want to share a few thoughts with the world.

“Jasmin. To have shared trail time with Jasmin Paris (Scotland), problem solved in the middle of the night on loop four, and quietly battled the course together through some of the most difficult sections will forever be one of my most meaningful sporting experiences.

Her story is one the world needs to hear and learn from.

“Words don’t exist to describe how her heroic sprint to the finish with 99 seconds to spare felt and how it reprogrammed our perception of limits. If ever you feel like you’ve truly reached your limit, think about Jasmin and you’re sure find there is more to give.”

Long-lasting legacy

Campbell continued: “Becoming a father of two beautiful daughters has reshaped my purpose in this world. My job is not to protect them, to shield them, or to ensure they are continually comfortable. Rather, it is to enable them to have experiences where they are able to learn, to fail, to grow, to adapt, and to build their own foundation and self-definition. Having proper role models is critical at their ages (7 & 10) and is something we should actively engage in as parents. Real, human, superheroes.

“My girls hear about Barkley all the time, but 2024 will forever be different. I look forward to them reading about, learning from, and someday meeting Jasmin. What she did at Barkley is something that will positively impact the world for centuries.”

And while Campbell modestly didn’t refer to his own landmark achievement, race creator Laz Lake did when he called it a “masterpiece”.

Writing on Facebook, Lake said the performance of both Campbell and John Kelly, with his third finish, were “works of art” from “the definition of Barkley elite”.