USD hurdler qualifies for 2024 Olympic Trials

VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO) — “If you would have told me in high school, I guess that I’d be at where I am now, I definitely would not believe you,” USD Track and Field athlete Jacy Pulse said about her Division I track career. “I didn’t have the best freshman year. I had a hamstring injury, and I was struggling with some knee problems as well throughout those early years,”

But now, the South Dakota hurdler is hopping in the fast lane as she’s set to compete at this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials.

“Going in, I love being able to represent South Dakota and just the small town that I’m from. It’s really great to kind of have that exposure for the school and for the town that I’m from. But I’m really excited for it,” Pulse said.

The Salem, South Dakota native qualified for the 400 meter hurdles in 56.17 seconds, 3-tenths of a second under the automatic qualifying time. The recent nursing graduate said it took discipline and dedication to get where she is now.

“There’s a lot of workouts, a lot of working around my nursing schedule as well and trying to figure out times and working hard in the summer and not necessarily doing the things that your normal college student would do,” Pulse said.

Now, Pulse is focused on staying healthy and making some final adjustments as she steps into the starting blocks and competes for a spot on Team U.S.A.

She’ll first compete in the 400 meter hurdles at this year’s NCAA championships next week. She finished 10th in the nation last year.

“My goal is to place in that top eight and be able to get the first team all-American,” Pulse said.

Pulse has a job lined up with a nursing clinic in Sioux Falls at the end of this summer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.