Jesse Labreck looks to Stage One: ‘I’m fully aware that you don’t always reach your goals. But I’m going to keep trying for it.’

We will never get tired of watching Jesse Labreck smash records. On night four of the American Ninja Warrior season 13 Semifinals, Jesse did it once again and she reached her third extended course buzzer. That was her second buzzer of the year after her finish in the Qualifiers. With eight regular-season buzzers under her belt, Jesse simply dominates. There’s no way around it.

But there’s still one goal she’s chasing. Jesse wants to clear Stage One of the National Finals. To this point in the show’s history, only Jessie Graff and Allyssa Beird have hit that buzzer. Jesse has come close three times.

We sat down for a few minutes with Jesse in Las Vegas ahead of her fifth attempt at Stage One. Here’s what our conversation revealed about her approach to the National Finals.

Responses lightly edited for length and clarity.

What was the most memorable moment of the Semifinals for you?

JL: I feel like the most memorable thing for me was being on The Dungeon and, honestly, I didn’t think I could get through it. As I was going up I thought, “Man, I am really getting tired. Okay, just keep making moves. Don’t stop moving. One more move. One more move.”

Before I knew it, I was at the end of the obstacle and I just could not believe it. I surprised myself that I got through it. That was a really cool feeling.

Elizabeth Morris/NBC

What does it feel like to hit yet another Semifinals buzzer?

JL: It feels incredible. Getting the buzzer wasn’t even my goal. My goal was to get back to Vegas because my number one goal right now is to get the Stage One buzzer. But obviously, when you’re there, you’re trying to get as far as you can.

Before I knew it, I was climbing the Spider Trap and I couldn’t believe it. It was like a cherry on top. It was not what I was searching for. That was to get to Vegas.

You’re back in Vegas. You’re going to face Stage One again. Have you prepared any differently this year?

JL: Not really. I’ve been prepping flying into the cargo net as tired as possible. But I did that in previous years too. Freak things happen every single time. I re-watch my runs. Every single time, it’s like, “Aaand that’s why I didn’t do it.” If I had just cleaned up something in each one of my runs, I feel like I would have had it. I need to not make those little mistakes before getting there, making myself really tired.

Elizabeth Morris/NBC

How are you feeling? What are you thinking?

JL: I know I can do it. I did it in USA vs The World. I know I’m capable of doing it. It’s just doing it that one time that it counts. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. If I do it, awesome. If I don’t, my life will have not changed from the past four years. I’ve gone through failing it three times in a row. I’ve been fine. I’ll be fine again.

I would like to get it. I would really, really like to get it. But I know that obviously, it’s really, really hard. I’ve had three chances at it. Three times I’ve gotten to the end. Three times and I haven’t gotten it. It’s hard.

That’s my goal. I’m fully aware that you don’t always reach your goals. But I’m going to keep trying for it. Until I decide to stop.

Jesse has attempted Stage One four previous times. She has reached the final obstacle and fallen or timed out three times.

Jesse knows that all eyes will be on her as she steps up to Stage One. We’ll see that run when American Ninja Warrior moves to the National Finals next!