Drawing a comparison to the electrifying Sha’Carri Richardson, senior Jacious Sears possesses a similar combination of speed, power, and charisma that has the potential to captivate fans on a global scale. With her recent performance at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida on 13 April, Sears broke her own school record, coming close to surpassing the women’s collegiate 100m dash record held by former LSU Tiger sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.

Progressing in collegiate all-time records, Sears is set to be a head-to-head competitor for Sha’Carri Richardson whose sole rival on the road to Paris was 200m world champion, Shericka Jackson. The burning question remains: Is Sears getting close to Sha’Carri Richardson’s level as she continues her rapid ascent?

How did Jacious Sears enter Sha’Carri Richardson’s league?

Former professional track and field athlete turned content creator, Fitzroy Dunkley, also known as @FitzDunk on social platforms, recently emphasized on Sears’ outstanding development. He shared on X, “Jacious Sears is now T-15 ALL-TIME in the 100m. Take a look at her progression to the 2nd fastest time in NCAA history and elite status. Sears is now the main topic of conversations for the NCAA 100m title in June and to make the US Olympic team in July.“

In her first outdoor season competition of 2024, Sears blasted to a mark of 10.77s, barely 0.02 seconds shy of Sha’Carri Richardson’s collegiate record. In the next races, Sears hopes to build on her strong performance and create even more personal records in addition to breaking this record. The race also prompted her to recall, Richardson’s 100m NCAA record at the NCAA Division I Championships in 2019, where she clocked 10.75s.

Future athletics meets are planned for seven different cities worldwide, so Sears fans can expect an interesting season. Additionally, having broken Richardson’s national collegiate record, the 22-year-old will have ample time to train for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. On the other hand, despite no participation, Richardson graced the Miramar Invitational 2024 leaving fans hanging for the next heat to show her dominance.

 Rising star on the track, threatening Richardson’s dominance

Sears is moving up the ranks, but Sha’Carri Richardson is still there ruling the tracks. The defending 100m world champion, Richardson, has an impending matchup with world 200m champion Shericka Jackson in the 2024 Diamond League tournament which highlights both her skill and the tough opposition Sears will have to contend with. Sears’ impressive rise, nevertheless, indicates that she might become one of Richardson’s heirs or possibly a danger at the US Olympic Trials.

Slicing almost two-tenths from her previous personal best, Sears enlivens the journey to Paris and raises expectations for an impressive Olympic debut. With everyone in the track community watching her progress with interest, Jacious Sears is ready to leave her imprint on the biggest platform of them all.