Earnest Sears III, a three-time Pac-12 men's high jump champion and the USC indoor program record holder and No. 2 all-time outdoor competitor at 7-6.50 (2.30m) for both seasons, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing June 10 at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Sears is an indoor and outdoor All-American, including a runner-up finish last year at the Division 1 indoor championship meet in Arkansas, along with placing seventh in 2018 and 2021 in two his two outdoor finals appearances at Hayward Field. He revisits overcoming an injury during fall training and expresses gratitude for still being able to qualify for the Division 1 indoor championship in March at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. Sears examines how he found his rhythm again early in the outdoor season by clearing 7-5.25 (2.27m) at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and winning the 62nd Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike by clearing 7-6.50 for the first time outdoors, trailing only 2005-06 NCAA champion Jesse Williams at 7-7.25 (2.32m) on the USC all-time performance list. He analyzes having four high jump coaches during his collegiate career and explains the collaboration this year with coach Tyree Price and how the training schedule has benefited Sears not only for the NCAA meet, but also in preparation to compete at the USATF Championships on June 23-26 at Hayward Field. Sears shares how beneficial it has been to have professional athletes as mentors in the USC program, from coaches Quincy Watts, Joanna Hayes and Carmelita Jeter, along with former program head Caryl Smith Gilbert, as well as teammates Isaiah Jewett, Michael Norman, Rai Benjamin, Kendall Ellis and Anna Cockrell who have represented the United States in international competition. He also explains his motivation to join the eight USC male athletes who have won a combined 11 NCAA outdoor high jump titles and how significant it is to be competing once more against Darius Carbin of Georgia and Isaiah Holmes of Miami (Florida), as all three athletes placed in the top five at the California state championships in 2016 and will be jumping together again at their last NCAA final. Sears also shares his passion for being a DJ and the parallels involved in captivating an audience while high jumping, along with controlling the set list and dance flow with his song choices at an event.