Photo Credit: Patrick McKinney
Name: Jack Sears
School: Linganore HS
What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment? Why is that?
My most memorable race was the indoor state championship 3200m because it was the race I won my state title. I was very nervous to race it and I will never forget the joy I had crossing the line.
Was there a certain moment or breakthrough race/meet when you realized you would be able to compete at a high level?
I realized I could break through at the state championships indoors, but it came to fruition at the Gator Invite 3200 where I PRed by 16 seconds to win.
What are some bumps in the road that you've encountered when it comes to training for different events during the season?
In the fall of 2020, I broke my foot and had to sit for three months just as I felt I was getting into really good shape, and this year I unknowingly had COVID during the state championships which limited my ability to compete at the level I know I am capable of.
If you are writing a letter to your younger freshman self, what advice might you give them?
I would tell him to put in the miles, keep enjoying running, and support his teammates.
If you had to pick: Track and Field or Cross Country, and why? (If you only run Track, then don't worry about explaining why).
If I had to pick I would choose Cross Country, because of the team atmosphere and camaraderie among cross country runners.
What are your post-high school or college plans? If Running in college, explain why you picked that school.
I will be attending McDaniel College this fall and running XC and track. I picked McDaniel because it had everything I was looking for academically and athletically.
What is your favorite pre-race snack, tradition, etc.?
My favorite tradition was the chant our team did every meet before a cross country race, it was such a fun way to help get the nerves out before hard races.
Name the top Maryland Cross Country or Track moment(s) you have witnessed. Could be by the level of greatness or just something that really stood out to you.
My top moments to watch in Maryland track have been seeing some of my fellow seniors run some outstanding performances, like Judson Lincoln in the 400 or Aiden Neal in the Penn mile. I also greatly enjoyed watching my teammates Will Cioffi and Michael Belmaggio when I was a freshman when they were competing for state titles.
Who would you like to say "thank you" to?
I want to say thank you to a lot of people, but especially my parents, grandparents, teammates, and coaches.
Is there anything else you would like to mention that stands out over the past 4 years?
I missed our school 1600 and 3200 records by .5 seconds and 1.38 seconds respectively, which was frustrating. At the same time, it was rewarding as those records were two of my goals to achieve for senior year as a freshman along with winning a state title, which I was also able to achieve. Hard work goes a long way in this sport, and it's been really cool to see what four years can do.
