By Justin Gaymon // Photo by Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

New York, March 24, 2015 - Columbia University senior, Nadia Eke will be starting this outdoor season on a high note after ending her indoor season with a big, bronze medal finish at NCAA Indoor Championships in the triple jump. She recorded her furthest mark of 13.32m (43-8.5) during the first round of the event’s preliminary round, tying her own University of Columbia school record. She also captured her seventh career conference title after winning the long and triple jump at February’s Ivy League Championships with 5.85m (19-2.5) and 13.32 (43-8.5). But she’s just getting started.

Outdoor Goals

Though Nadia has gone from placing eighth in the triple jump at NCAA Outdoor National Championships during her freshman year to sixth Indoor last year and third this indoor season, she still feels she has a lot to prove.

“I have not proven myself in the outdoor season since freshman year, so I definitely need to leave with a bang,” said Nadia. “I think the next big thing is the Championship title.”

In order to reach that goal, Nadia is focusing on consistency: executing her run to the board and three jumping phases as closely to perfection as possible. 

“There’s certain things that weren’t clicking at this past Championships,” said Nadia. “For instance, during one of my jumps the first phase was perfect and the second was a little off, but I think that if I continue to do what I’m doing those big jumps are going to come easier and more frequently.”

Competing at this August’s World Championships and next year’s Olympic games are also a part of Nadia’s goals, where she hopes to once again sport the red, yellow and green colors of Ghana.  

Jumping Around the World

Nadia’s first opportunity to compete for Ghana came this past July, where she took a solid 10^th place finish at the Commonwealth Games, which featured 71 competing nations in Glasgow, Scotland. There, her best triple jump came during the preliminary round, where she broke the Ghanaian national record with 13.14m (43-01). During August, she traveled to Marrakech, Morocco to earn a silver medal at African Championships, raising the Ghanaian record to 13.40 (43-96). Nadia competed again in Marrakech the following month, representing Ghana as one of two African triple jumpers selected to compete in the IAAF Continental Cup, placing seventh with 13.28.

“It felt like one of those things that you hear about, but never get to actually do,” replied Nadia when asked what it was like to compete on a big international stage. “I didn’t grow up wanting to pursue track, so to watch how much my perception and love for the sport has changed is just amazing.” 

From the Beginning

At the age of 12, Nadia and her older sister moved from the coastal, capital of Accra, Ghana to attend Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester, Massachusetts. In Ghana, Nadia had spent her free time playing pick-up soccer, but was reluctant to play on her new school’s team with its more organized and less “raw” playing style that she had grown accustom to.

She would go on to become a stand-out player amongst her school’s basketball team, but ultimately find her calling in track and field after taking her sister’s advice to join her at practice.

“There was no one signed up for triple jump, so I thought I guess I’ll do that because it doesn’t sound that hard. I didn’t know what it was and actually had to look it up.”

It’s safe to say that she was a natural, which is a good thing because the triple jump was the first and only event that Nadia attempted throughout most of her high school career (adding a handful of long jump performances to her repertoire during the end of her senior year).

She won the triple jump at the Massachusetts State and New England Championships three years in a row before finishing third at New Balance Outdoor Nationals during her junior year, but still had plenty of room from growth.

Becoming a Lion

When Nadia was recruited by Columbia University, she jumped at the opportunity.

 “I always wanted to live in New York, so during my first day as a freshman at Columbia I remember feeling like this was the right place for me. This was where I belonged.”

She enjoyed the fast paced environment and conveniences of the city while maintaining academic and athletic success. But it wasn’t until her sophomore year that she became fully dedicated to progressing as a jumper.

A Career Changing Injury

During her sophomore year, Nadia developed a bulging spinal disk that left her unable to walk for days, but through the injury developed a new passion for track and field. 

“When I got hurt it made me realize how much I appreciate the sport and how much I really wanted to pursue it. It made me come back my junior year hungry to compete. I realized that I wanted to be very serious about and very good at what I do.”

Nadia worked herself back into shape during her junior year and won Ivy League Championship titles in the outdoor triple jump as well indoor triple and long jumps. She still suffers with disc problems, but endures them through frequent rehabilitation and chiropractic work.

Keys to Success

Along with her strong Christian faith, Nadia attributes the keys to her recent success to largely include becoming a student of her event.

“It’s not just about going to practice and letting the coaches tell you what to do. I’ve been collaborating with them and learning more about what the jump sessions should feel like and coming up with concepts to help me achieve certain goals. So I’ve become more aware of my event and that’s been key. “