Sievers battles tough competition, adversity during running career

ELKHORN —Coming into the 2022-23 school year, Elkhorn South senior Jaci Sievers had big goals set after a stellar junior campaign. Sievers earned runner-up honors at the 2021 Class A State Cross Country meet and a pair of state crowns at the 2022 Class A State Track and Field Championship as a junior. The success propelled her into her senior year.

“My junior season taught me to race without fear,” Sievers stated. “I realized that it's OK to make mistakes in races, but to always give my all on the track. I was able to take these tools into my senior season which really helped propel me through.”

The senior Storm runner was ready for a big final season in the navy and gold, but unfortunately the start of the cross country season presented Sievers with her toughest test. Sievers dealt with an ongoing injury throughout the fall.

“This past fall was definitely a hard season for me,” Sievers recalled. “I was dealing with some nagging tendonitis that kept me from running in the beginning of the season and limited my training throughout it. It was tough at the moment but I am grateful that through the adversity I faced, I was able to realize that my identity is in Christ and although running is a big part of my life, it is not who I am.”

Sievers battled through the setbacks and adversities throughout the fall and helped set the example of how to battle through tough situations.

“It was very tough,” Elkhorn South girls track and field coach and assistant cross country coach Peter Cosimi noted. “She really realized what was most important was being able to compete in general. I think it helped mentally to see what running did for her and how much she missed just competing. It wasn't about winning, records or all that when she came back (of course those were goals); but at the end of the day just being able to be out there and have some fun was the main focus.”

Sievers made the most of her shortened cross country season. Despite limited race times and meets, Sievers earned a fourth-place finish at the state meet this past fall (earning her third cross country state medal).

“I was happy to be healthy enough to compete at the state cross country race,” Sievers spoke. “Although fourth-place came short of my goals, I am proud to have come back despite all the physical and mental barriers I faced that season.”

Of course battling through physical and mental battles are what makes being a distance runner so difficult. Mental toughness is just as important as physical conditioning when it comes to running over a long period of time.

“Although distance running takes a lot of training and hard work physically, I believe that the mental side is even more important,” Sievers added. “It requires passion and drive just to step out onto the track every day. I'm grateful that God instilled the love of running in me from a young age and I enjoy working hard to steward the gift.”

Sievers instilled that mindset at a young age and was looked to as a leader for the Elkhorn South distance runners.

“I think Jaci really led by example,” Cosimi commented. “There were few that came close to working as hard as she did, but a lot of kids saw how hard she worked and tried to get to that level of effort.”

Sievers started her running career with a bang. After finishing 20th as a freshman at the Class A State Cross Country championship, Sievers returned to Kearney the next season and earned her first state medal; placing seventh.

After missing out on the 2020 state track meet due to COVID-19 canceling the 2020 spring season, Sievers made her debut at Burke Stadium for the 2021 state championship race. The Storm distance runner brought home four medals. Sievers came in sixth in the 1,600-meter run, sixth in the 3,200, seventh in the 800 and helped the 3,200-meter relay team place third as a team.

“She came to us already pretty talented, but talent doesn't mean much if you don't put it to work,” Cosimi continued. “Right away, she worked hard to be the best runner in our school's history and she can definitely make an argument at being one of the best in the state's history. I think the area she saw the most growth in though is her mental approach to things. She really started to gain confidence in herself her junior year of cross country and I think that really elevated her game.”

At the state cross country race during her junior year, Sievers gave Fremont runner Elli Dahl all she could handle. Dahl eventually pulled away in the final mile, but Sievers came away with the silver medal with a time of 18:27.5. The high-level of competition Sievers raced against each meet helped fuel the Elkhorn South distance runner.

“It's been amazing to be a part of the Nebraska distance running over the past few years,” Sievers said. “So many of us girls continued to raise the bar. We constantly pushed each other to be better and had a lot of fun doing it. Many of us have also built relationships off the track which has been super cool.”

Sievers completed her climb up the podium at the 2022 state track championship. Sievers earned her first gold medal in the 3,200 on the first day, then won the 1,600 the following day. Sievers was also a member of the Storm’s fifth-place 3,200 relay team.

“My junior year track season and the state titles are very special to me,” Sievers stated.
“I would consider it my ‘Breakout season,’ because I truly found the confidence to race to my potential and run freely for God's glory.”

After battling through the ups and downs of this past cross country season, Sievers took to the track for the final time at Burke Stadium earlier this month.

“Having to sit out for most of my cross country season definitely motivated me for track,” Sievers noted. “Running and competing brings me so much joy. Building back to where I was was a challenge, but it was so worth it to race again.”

At her last Nebraska High School state meet, Sievers elected to run in the 3,200, 1,600 and 800. After two grueling days of racing, the senior left Burke Stadium with three more state medals.

“I decided to run the 3,200, 800 and 1,600 at state this year mainly to help my team,” Sievers added. “Although we did not come away with a trophy, I'm grateful to walk away knowing I gave all I had for them and am happy to have earned some more state medals in very talented fields.”

Sievers captured the state crown in the 3,200 with a time of 10:36.55. Sievers jumped out to a huge lead and continued to race past the competition to defend her state title.

“I knew that if I wanted to run a good time in the 3,200, I would need to go out fast,” Sievers recalled. “I took this a little too seriously and went out a little too quick, but was thankful to hold on and earn the gold.”

The senior Storm capped her stellar career with a runner-up finish in the 1,600 and a fifth-place finish in the 800.

“Jaci is very methodical and driven,” Cosimi said. “She likes to have a plan and do everything in her power to make that plan happen.”

Sievers still has plenty of miles and races left in the tank. The senior committed to run cross country and track at the University of Tennessee.

“I was very blessed to be able to visit a lot of great schools for running,” Sievers noted. “Tennessee was the first school I visited and I found myself comparing every other program back to them. The passion and vision for the program and athletes that the coaching staff has ultimately made me feel very wanted and supported.”

Sievers’ former mentor believes the success will follow her from Elkhorn to Knoxville.

“She will definitely transition to longer races in track and field,” Cosimi stated. “She will put more miles on and play into her strengths of being one of the strongest runners out there. There is nobody else out there that can hold up a blistering tempo at a long distance like her in our state. She is pretty low-mileage compared to others so when she puts on a bit more, watch out. Our philosophy is there is always another step after high school so we don't typically pack a ton of miles on kids so she has plenty of room to improve still.”

The state titles, countless medals and awards have been special to Sievers; but there is one moment this past year that meant more to her than any race or trophy ever could.

“My proudest running moments in high school would be the state championships and earning the senior female student athlete of the year award for my high school,” Sievers spoke. “My ultimate proudest moment, though, would have to be outside of running. This year I decided to get baptized which was very special to me because it was an outward proclamation that my relationship with Jesus is the most important part of my life.”

Sievers plans to study business and focus on sports marketing at Tennessee.

“I am really looking forward to the adventure of moving to Knoxville,” Sievers concluded. “I am very excited to further my education and be a part of an up and coming track and cross country program as well as meeting new friends and exploring a new city.”