Jessie Zealand

Class:
Junior
Height:
5-2
Hometown:
Forest, Va.
Prev School:
Home Schooled

TFRRS Profile

Conference USA Cross Country Championship (6K)
2023 (Bowling Green, Ky.): 24th place, 23:05.2

NCAA Southeast Regional Championship (6K)
2023 (Spartanburg, S.C.): 182nd place, 23:11.4

2024 Outdoor Track & Field (So.)

Did not compete in any races and was redshirted
CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal winner
CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member

2023-24 Indoor Track & Field (So.)

Posted a personal-best 10:43.71 3K at the Brant Tolsma Invitational in her lone indoor race

2023 Cross Country (So.)

Top effort of a breakthrough season was a 24^th-place showing (No. 6 Lady Flame) at the CUSA Championship which helped Liberty take second place over New Mexico State
Paced the Lady Flames in the Paul Short Run open 6K, coming in 13^th
Dropped a personal-best 22:19.4 in the XC23 Pre-Nationals 6K, her first race among Liberty’s top seven

2023 Outdoor Track & Field (Fr.)

Improved her 5K clocking each time out, progressing from 19:17.12 at the VertKlasse Meeting to 18:43.05 at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier
ASUN Academic Honor Roll member

2022-23 Indoor Track & Field (Fr.)

Top times of the season were a 5:23.88 mile at the Liberty Open and a 10:44.90 3K at the Brant Tolsma Invitational

2022 Cross Country (Fr.)

Began her collegiate career with an 18^th-place finish at the Liberty Challenge
Took 46^th in the Paul Short Run open 6K in a season-best 22:47.9

Prep

Home schooled
Punctuated her high school cross country career by placing 59^th in the silver race at the 2021 Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships
Won her second of back-to-back Terrapin Half Marathon titles in 2022 in 2:08:16, just three minutes off the course record
Top times included 11:33.93 (3,200) and 18:28 (5K)

Personal

Daughter of Clark and Andrea Zealand
Father competed in cross country and track & field at Liberty
Aunt Heather Zealand is her coach at Liberty
Cousin Allie Zealand is her teammate on the Liberty women’s track & field and cross country teams
Birthday is March 30
Hospitality management major

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
I wanted to pursue a high-level of athletics while keeping Christ at the center!

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I always pick a Bible verse to pray through and remind myself that every opportunity to run is a gift from the Lord.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
From a young age my dad inspired me to run (he was a pro trail runner), he has always been so encouraging and always challenges me to push my mental and physical boundaries.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
When I got my 5k personal record (18:08) at Liberty Twilight freshman year, and getting my 6k personal record (22:19) at pre-nationals.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My dad and all my uncles were on the LU cross country team during college.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
Breakfast beats all meals.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
Listening to music (If that's a hobby).

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Messi