Gatlin has given Sears some tips on how to get even better after she nearly broke Sha'Carri Richardson's record.
Former American sprinter Justin Gatlin has extended his wisdom and advice to Jacious Sears, a promising 22-year-old athlete who recently made waves with her impressive performance on the track.
Sears came tantalizingly close to breaking Sha’Carri Richardson’s NCAA Outdoor Championships’ 100m record earlier this month, running the second-fastest 100m in NCAA history with a time of 10.77 seconds at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.
Sha’Carri Richardson, the current record holder, set the bar high with her historic victory in 2019, clocking in at 10.75 seconds and setting a collegiate record while also improving Marlies Göhr's 42-year-old world U20 best.
Sears, fueled by her ambition to break records and make a mark in the sport, expressed her determination to chase after the world's fastest woman's record, emphasizing that her recent performance only solidifies her goals for the Olympic year.
In a post-race interview with Citius Mag, Sears shared her aspirations, stating, “She ran that race beautifully & I pray to God that I can run my next few races beautifully and PR even more.”
Recognizing Sears' potential and determination, Gatlin offered his perspective and advice to the young sprinter during an episode of his podcast "Ready Set Go."
“She ran that race like a professional female 100m runner would run that race in a championship setting,” Gatlin remarked.
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“That is how she ran that race. I hope she can sustain that throughout the season, get even faster because you know how things are in our sport.
“You gotta seize every moment that is in front of you that is going to change your life and the trajectory of your career.
Sears's remarkable run at the Tom Jones Invitational is a massive improvement from her previous personal best of 10.96s clocked to win the 2023 South Eastern Conference Championship title and will be gunning to win the NCAA title this season as well as making the US Olympic team to Paris.
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