Fresno State Athletics
Sears' dream in sight down final stretch of Bulldog career
5/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
By: Taylor Martinez
taymar11@mail.fresnostate.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State track and field senior Je'Nia Sears has had a highly decorated career as a Bulldog, looking back over the past four-plus years since arriving on campus from Edison High School.
The Fresno native holds the all-time school records in the long jump, both in indoor and outdoor track and field, is a Mountain West champion, three-time outdoor NCAA qualifier and an indoor NCAA qualifier. In 2014 she finished as a second-team All-American and a year earlier she was an indoor second-team All-American. Collegiate athletes hope to finish their career with a handful of these accomplishments, but Sears is striving to accomplish one last goal.
Her dream is to be a first-team All-American, which means placing within the top eight at this year's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the prestigious Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore. this June. It is a dream that she has chased since she first stepped foot on campus at Fresno State, and one that has eaten at her since placing ninth at the 2014 NCAA Finals.
After much deliberation with her coaches and family, Sears utilized a redshirt season during the 2014-15 season, as it fit with her goals for both track and field and graduation. It was a narrowed focus to use what would have been her true senior year to prepare to make her run to be one of the top long jumpers in the country, qualify for the 2016 Olympic trials and earn her degree.
"I've become a better athlete," said Sears, while beginning to explain her fifth-year at Fresno State. "I'm stronger physically and I'm mentally stronger. My coaches have helped me focus and have worked on my technique. I've really grown into myself as an athlete. I realized that this is what I'm here to do and I need to give it my all."
At Edison High School, Sears dreamed of becoming a Fresno State Bulldog. Sears played volleyball and basketball and excelled at both, but it was her prowess on the track that caught the eye of Fresno State head coach Scott Winsor.
"I was excited to receive a scholarship from Fresno State," said Sears. "When I started running track I realized I had a chance to get schools to notice me, and having the chance to stay close to home was definitely a bonus."
Sears hit the track running. As a freshman (2011-12) she helped the Bulldogs 4x100-meter relay team to a second place finish at the WAC Outdoor Championships, she finished third place in the long jump there and earned the first of multiple postseason bids to the NCAA's.
As a sophomore and junior, Sears returned to the NCAA Preliminary Round, but during her junior year (2013-14) she broke past the preliminary round and into the grand stage of the NCAA Finals - each season teams and individuals qualify for one of two regionals, which are split geographically by east and west, it is also known as the NCAA West and East Preliminary Rounds. In the long jump, of 48 regional qualifiers, the individual must place in the top 16 to move on to the final - Sears placed seventh in the 2014 West Prelims in Fayetteville, Ark. to advance. Almost in her grasp was a spot on the first-team All-American podium, but she placed ninth at the final, a miss that devastated Sears.
Winsor knows that barely missing the top eight has been her driving force behind what has already been a stellar senior campaign - she owns the third-best long jump (21'-9.00") in the NCAA as of May 4.
"That left a bad taste in her mouth," Winsor said. "It has driven her to work harder and she has matured a lot over the past couple years."
Now in her fifth-year, there is not much that Sears has not experienced. She has been to TrackTown USA and the confidence she has built results in that no stage is too big and she can compete with anyone in the country.
"I've been [to the NCAA Finals] and it was a great experience to compete with the top dogs, but now I need to get there again and be a top dog," Sears added.
As Sears' career at Fresno State starts to come to a close, her head coach describes an All-American finish would not only put the exclamation mark on Sears' career, but help Fresno State's track program reach new heights in the future.
"We're trying to get the program back to what it used to be," said Winsor. "I think especially with recruiting this area it would help a lot. We've got great things going on right now and if Je'Nia can finish her career as an All-American, it will show the Valley what this program can achieve."
Sears wants to walk away from her senior season knowing that she didn't leave anything behind - she wants to leave it all out there on the runway. "This is my last chance - I have to make the top eight," Sears said. "That is my end goal, to be an All-American."
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