Jennie Sewell enjoyed one of the most decorated careers a Sam Houston State athlete has ever had. From 2003-2007 Sewell completely dominated the pole vault in the Southland Conference, claiming seven of the eight conference championships she competed in. The only time Sewell failed to take gold at the SLC meet was her first try at the Southland Outdoor championships.

Sewell competed at the NCAA championships three times, capping her stellar career with a fifth place finish at nationals, earning her and All-America honor. All of that added up lead to Sewell being a runaway winner as SHSU's female athlete of the decade, as voted on by a panel of media members and athletic administrators at Sam Houston State.

While at SHSU, Sewell accomplished nearly everything possible. She was the 2007 Outstanding Performer at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, Four time SLC Indoor gold medalist, three-time SLC Outdoor champion and one runner-up finish as a freshman, 2007 NCAA Midwest Regional Champion, three-time national championship participant and an NCAA All-American.

Sewell is the school record holder in both indoor and outdoor. In fact, no one is even close. Sewell's best jump is more than a foot higher than the next best vaulter at Sam Houston State.

Sewell's senior year was by far her best. She won nine of the 10 meets she competed in, including the Southland's Outdoor Championships where she won her seventh conference title. Sewell also became the first athlete in SHSU history to finish first at an NCAA regional and at the Texas Relays, and capped that year with her fifth place finish at the NCAA's.

"I really hadn't thought about everything I accomplished (in 2007)" said Sewell in an interview with the Huntsville Item in 2007. "I have been so busy after graduating. But it is enlightening. I'm just so happy I was successful at what I was doing. I believe that if you work hard enough you will achieve your goals."

What made Sewell's year so spectacular is that not only did she have to overcome a back injury that forced her to redshirt in '06, but the fact that she was able to compete at such a high level.

With a fresh start, Sewell took the 2007 outdoor season by storm, winning competitions at Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Rice, the Texas Relays, Northwestern State (twice), TCU, the SLC meet and the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Des Moines, Iowa on May 25.

"I usually like situations where I have to overcome obstacles," Sewell said about her rough stretch. "It was like a driving force that made me want to come back and do the best I could."