As one of Brandeis' track and field record holders, sophomore Sarai Sealy continues to show that the sky's the limit as she participates in triple jump, long jump, and short sprints. But she was also an exceptional athlete in another sport for many years: synchronized figure skating. Sealy was a member of the Haydenettes, the United States' highest level of synchronized figure skating that competes nationally and internationally. 

Sealy began figure skating at five and got into synchronized group skating at seven through a friend. She initially started out in solo figure skating, but later focused on synchronized skating due to a higher amount of pressure competing on her own. "It felt more beautiful and nicer to be with a group of people," said Sealy. While competing at the highest level, her cherished memories were from traveling internationally with teammates and performing pep rallies for the families of the team. She eventually left the Haydenettes last year due to the struggles of balancing school with track and field and figure skating. Although she joined the Haydenettes for fun, she ended up competing for 11 years. 


Sealy's introduction to triple jump happened in her freshman year of high school and while she didn't know much at first, it quickly became an event that she loved. She feels that her growth from high school to college has been gradual, but strong. Studying psychology, what ultimately drew her to Brandeis was the amazing team culture she saw when she came for an official visit. "No matter what happens, I'll always have my teammates and that's a good feeling," said Sealy. That supportive culture is part of what propels her to continue improving in triple jump, regardless of the obstacles. Sealy says, "The difficulty of the triple jump makes me so excited to do it," showing her eagerness for new challenges. She also constantly sets new goals for herself, as she wants to set new personal records, jumping 5+ inches farther, and be able to place again at UAAs. Brandeis Track and Field Head Coach Miles Ketchum reflected on Sealy's first year and praised her growth and commitment, even as she balanced figure skating and triple jump. "What she lost in time, she made up for with focus, effort, and a desire to improve whenever given the opportunity," said Ketchum.


Sealy also spoke about how her figure skating background helped her transition to triple jump. The coordination skills she used on ice became essential for the rhythm and coordination when jumping, making it easier for her. She also mentioned that the mindset and lessons she's learned over the years have benefited her in her track and field journey. Due to synchronized figure skating being a team event, small mistakes affect everyone, but she emphasized the idea that everyone has flaws and that scores don't define people. "You have to wipe whatever's in the past clean and start with a more positive outlook on everything," said Sealy. 

Sealy's perseverance and confidence was large, as she broke the Judges' indoor record for triple jump previously held by Elena Zhelezov '95, a Brandeis Hall of Famer who was the first woman to win the same event four years in a row at both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Division III Championships. While Sealy felt that she wasn't at her best that day, it ended up being a monumental moment in her track and field career that took her by surprise. "I was just utterly shocked and when I realized I broke her record, I was like 'Finally.'" Coach Ketchum also spoke about how he recognized the potential in Sealy and how he knew she was capable of breaking school records. "When she is at her best, Sarai is capable of anything," said Ketchum. After achieving this accomplishment, Sealy is driven to set more records for the school and for herself."

As a former figure skater, Sealy still loves to watch other skaters and with the Winter Olympics about to start, she is looking forward to seeing skaters like Amber Glenn compete for the US. Glenn recently broke the record for a high score of 83.05 in the women's short program and is trying to become the first American woman since 2005 to win a medal in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. Although Sealy is no longer on the ice, her background in figure skating played a large part in the athlete she has become and there is a lot for her to look forward to in track and field this season.