By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter
Emilia Sjostrand is the first female Indoor and Outdoor All-American in SJSU track and field history | Photo by Maleek Diaz courtesy of SJSU Athletics
Emilia Sjostrand capped off San Jose State’s historic year in athletics by becoming the first Women’s Outdoor All-American in SJSU track and field history. Her feat in Austin, Texas on Thursday came only months after she became the first Women’s Indoor All-American in SJSU history.
“Spartan Nation, we got another All-American,” SJSU head coach Charles Ryan said.
Sjostrand, a sophomore jumper from Sweden, finished in seventh place with a long jump of 6.31 meters (20’8.5″).
The protest lodged at the event could’ve placed Sjostrand in eighth place, but with the top-10 jumpers earning All-American honors, it wouldn’t have erased her historic feat.
“Crazy evening in the long jump,” Ryan said.
A sprinkle of chaos is fitting for Sjostrand and her unique beat-the-odds story. However, this sports cliche isn’t a byproduct of either a lack of talent, skill or physical attributes.
She had all three, but was reluctant to leave her home country Sweden and needed to be persuaded by her parents – particularly her father – to travel overseas.
After deciding to take the leap of faith, Sjostrand missed the fall 2021 semester of her freshman year because she couldn’t obtain a U.S. Visa. COVID-19 made visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden nearly impossible to schedule.
Eventually, Sjostrand got a U.S. Visa and made it to San Jose in the winter of 2022. However, she grew deeply homesick and was kept apart from her teammates yet again because of difficulties scheduling a blood test to get medically cleared.
“My first two weeks here I think I called my mom, my dad and my brother every day crying. I was like, ‘I don’t think I want to stay here,’” Sjostrand recalled last April.
It affirmed her initial reluctance once again, but just like all prior barriers she found a way through it.
Sjostrand can only laugh about it now considering what’s been accomplished.
Chief among them are the aforementioned 2023 Indoor and Outdoor All-American feats plus becoming an Indoor All-Mountain West in 2023 and an Outdoor All-Mountain West in 2022-23. Sjostrand also holds the top-10 triple jump marks in SJSU history.
In doing so, she’s been a crucial part of the Spartans’ rebuild in Ryan’s second year as head coach.
Sjostrand was joined in Austin this week by fellow freshman long jumpers Eve Divinity, who finished 20th (5.93 m), and freshman Ajamu Reed, who placed 17th (7.59 m).
“[Reed] represents the best of our program and he is at the biggest show on the biggest stage that we have,” said Charles. “We’re super proud of him and he will be back.”
While Reed’s campaign is done, Sjostrand still has a chance to continue making history. On Saturday, she’ll be competing in the women’s triple jump which can be seen on ESPN+ at 6:10 p.m.