Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Spotlight: Jestena Mattson
6/4/2019 2:44:00 PM | Track & Field
FRESNO, Calif. – In three days, Fresno State's Jestena Mattson will begin the final competition of her Bulldog career in Austin, Texas at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This week marks the second straight championships the senior will compete in after traveling to Birmingham, Alabama in February for indoor nationals.
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The senior will close her career as a five-time Mountain West medalist and four-time champion in the combined events, twice winning the pentathlon (2017, 2019) and heptathlon (2018, 2019). She is the only athlete in program history to win more than one conference championship in the combined events in program history.
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GoBulldogs.com caught up with Mattson prior to her departure for the NCAA Championships to talk about competing in the heptathlon.
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Q: How did you get into competing in the heptathlon?
A: My high school coach told me that I would be good at it and because I wanted to further my career after college, I knew that with my leg speed and how good the field in the U.S. is in the sprints that I wasn't going to be able to. I was just told repeatedly how I had the genetic make-up and body type for this event and that I needed to give it a try. They were right.
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Q: What is the most common response you receive when you say that you compete in the heptathlon?
A: What is the heptathlon? (Mattson then has to explain that it's seven events over two days)
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Q: How do you go about training for seven events?
A: We train five to six days a week. Each day we focus primarily on two events, sometimes one, and up to three. If we're getting really crazy it's four but usually it's around two events like hurdles and a jump or jump and throw or sprints and throw. We'll never do two jumps on the same day or two throws on the same day, it's just too much on your body.
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Q: What is your favorite of the seven events?
A: It changes pretty often but right now it's the 100-meter hurdles. They're a lot of fun and I've never done anything that's not just straight running. Having this obstacle in front of me is very interesting.
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Q: What is your least favorite of the seven events?
A: I don't really have a least favorite anymore. It used to be shot put because I wasn't built like a typical thrower but I learned very quickly that there isn't a body type for a thrower. I would say the one that I get the most nervous for is the 800. It's two laps and you have to run really fast and the way you feel after is terrible. Once I start it, I don't really mind it but it's the leading up to it.
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Q: What do you enjoy most about the heptathlon?
A: Because I'm so passionate about the event, it doesn't seem like a lot to me like it might to most. In high school I did four events, both relays and the 100 and 200. I was able to do four events with ease so just adding three more on a different day didn't do much. It's a great feeling to get through all of those events and feel the way that I do when I know that a lot of people wouldn't be in the same position that I'm in once they've completed it or have attempted to complete it.
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Q: Since you're still young in the event, where do you see yourself going from this point?
A: Hopefully I just continue this pattern of going up, keep improving that score, going to meets and getting more experience especially experience in other countries, with athletes who are better than me so I can see how they conduct themselves, how they compete. I still have so much to learn not only in my events but also in competing at that level.
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"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley"" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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The senior will close her career as a five-time Mountain West medalist and four-time champion in the combined events, twice winning the pentathlon (2017, 2019) and heptathlon (2018, 2019). She is the only athlete in program history to win more than one conference championship in the combined events in program history.
Â
GoBulldogs.com caught up with Mattson prior to her departure for the NCAA Championships to talk about competing in the heptathlon.
Â
Q: How did you get into competing in the heptathlon?
A: My high school coach told me that I would be good at it and because I wanted to further my career after college, I knew that with my leg speed and how good the field in the U.S. is in the sprints that I wasn't going to be able to. I was just told repeatedly how I had the genetic make-up and body type for this event and that I needed to give it a try. They were right.
Â
Q: What is the most common response you receive when you say that you compete in the heptathlon?
A: What is the heptathlon? (Mattson then has to explain that it's seven events over two days)
Â
Q: How do you go about training for seven events?
A: We train five to six days a week. Each day we focus primarily on two events, sometimes one, and up to three. If we're getting really crazy it's four but usually it's around two events like hurdles and a jump or jump and throw or sprints and throw. We'll never do two jumps on the same day or two throws on the same day, it's just too much on your body.
Â
Q: What is your favorite of the seven events?
A: It changes pretty often but right now it's the 100-meter hurdles. They're a lot of fun and I've never done anything that's not just straight running. Having this obstacle in front of me is very interesting.
Â
Q: What is your least favorite of the seven events?
A: I don't really have a least favorite anymore. It used to be shot put because I wasn't built like a typical thrower but I learned very quickly that there isn't a body type for a thrower. I would say the one that I get the most nervous for is the 800. It's two laps and you have to run really fast and the way you feel after is terrible. Once I start it, I don't really mind it but it's the leading up to it.
Â
Q: What do you enjoy most about the heptathlon?
A: Because I'm so passionate about the event, it doesn't seem like a lot to me like it might to most. In high school I did four events, both relays and the 100 and 200. I was able to do four events with ease so just adding three more on a different day didn't do much. It's a great feeling to get through all of those events and feel the way that I do when I know that a lot of people wouldn't be in the same position that I'm in once they've completed it or have attempted to complete it.
Â
Q: Since you're still young in the event, where do you see yourself going from this point?
A: Hopefully I just continue this pattern of going up, keep improving that score, going to meets and getting more experience especially experience in other countries, with athletes who are better than me so I can see how they conduct themselves, how they compete. I still have so much to learn not only in my events but also in competing at that level.
Â
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley"" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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Players Mentioned
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