The US track and field has a brand new female star on the horizon. No, it’s not Sha’Carri Richardson. Winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Richardson established her dominance internationally. Thus, when the records of such a personality look to be in danger, it is evident that the budding athlete must be considered with utmost respect. The athlete in question is none other than Jacious Sears.

The 23-year-old sprinter who is a senior at the University of Tennessee is making waves in the NCAA realm. And back in April 2024, her performance at the Tom Jones Invitational made her a popular name. Clocking a timing of 10.77s, Sears came very close to breaking Sha’Carri Richardson’s Collegiate record in the 100 m category. Now that is impressive!

Continuing the interesting back and forth between the duo, Nike has spiced up things further. It is well known that Sha’Carri Richardson is the face of Nike and has a long association with the brand. In a recent update, the former Tennessee sensation, Jacious Sears has been roped in by Nike as one of their athletes. 

Sears is expected to be sporting her Nike connection in her very first race after turning pro. She will kickstart her journey in Clemson, participating in the 60m category. Surely, this will be one of the biggest prospects to watch out for this season. While Richardson is already a star, Jacious Sears’ inclusion into Nike goes on to show how she has the potential to match Richardson’s stardom in the coming days. 

Meanwhile, despite Sears threatening Sha’Carri Richardson’s records, she hasn’t been able to beat her in a one-on-one race. The duo went against each other at the 2023 Miramar Invitational final. And once again, Jacious Sears was at her electrifying best. She ran 11.08s in the final to pose a commanding threat to Richardson. Unfortunately for Sears, Richardson was way too fast. Dropping a whopping 10.57s time, the Olympic silver medalist cruised to victory. Thus, there is no saying that these two athletes’ rivalry will surely keep the track world occupied. Meanwhile, Jacious Sears has the ultimate goal of competing in the Olympics. After all, the 23-year-old has a very special reason for the same.

Jacious Sears wants to fulfill her mother’s aspirations

Jacious Sears clocked a season-best time of 10.77s to become a strong candidate for the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, plagued by injury, Sears had to go MIA. However, despite her heartbreak, she continues to keep her Olympic dreams alive. That is because she wants to fulfill her mother’s dreams. Interestingly, Sears’ mother was a track athlete herself. 

Originally hailing from Jamaica, Sears’ mother relocated to the United States. Unfortunately, she did not have enough opportunities to shine in the field. Trying to repay all her mother’s sacrifices for her, Sears now wants to live her mother’s dreams through herself. “She’s been through so much. After her divorce with my dad, she took care of me and my sister by herself. I really just want to make her proud… I want to make her feel that the hard work she put into us is paying off,” said Sears. 

Thus, with dreams in her eyes, Jacious Sears will kick off her journey to the track and field ascension. However, en route, she might face a stiff hurdle from the likes of Sha’Carri Richardson and more. It will be interesting to see how her ironclad mentality, coupled with her grit and determination takes her to the next level in the upcoming days.