University of Minnesota Athletics
Warm-Up Lap: Q&A with Emerald Egwim
5/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
By Jordyn Anderson, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- Eagan, Minn., native Emerald Egwim has been making her mark on the Gopher women's track & field program. She started as a walk on where she competed in the Maroon and Gold as a true freshman and has worked her way up to becoming one of the best sprinters in program history.
She currently holds Minnesota's program records for both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash and was a part of the program's record-holding 4x400-meter relay team both indoor and outdoor, joining teammates Kat Keller, Erin Hawkins, and Titania Markland to set both records in 2016.
Gophersports.com sat down with the junior to talk about the story behind her success in the classroom and on the track, what her journey has been like this far, and the sweet treat that she loves.
Gopher Sports: What are some of your goals for the rest of the outdoor season?
Emerald Egwim: My goal is to always 'better my best' for a successful race execution. It's my belief that if one gets too focused on times and places and all of that, then one loses sight of what one really should be doing. In order to get to those desired places and times, one needs to execute well. That's my biggest goal, along with being a good teammate and being there for my team.
GS: How does it feel to hold the school record for both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash?
EE: I would say that I feel really grateful! It's not something that I think about or dwell on, to be honest. When people bring it up, I'm like 'Oh yeah!' I feel that none of my achievements are entirely my own because I didn't achieve them all on my own. The support of my family and friends, the coaching staff, and my teammates who push me everyday in practice -- it's a culmination of all these things that helped me get here. It is a really big blessing and is a testament to how great God is. When I came here, it wasn't ever expected of me to be as fast as I am now. So, I am very grateful.
GS: You hold individual records and then you hold some program records with your relay teams, what is it like to break record as an individual versus with a relay?
EE: Breaking records in my individual events is great as I can really see the culmination of all of the strides I took to get there, not just in practice -- the choices I have made to eat right, sleep well, spend time in the training room, and become mentally stronger in my race. When I race individually, it's just me and God. When I run and do great things on a relay, it's like a mini community. It's great to be able to pour into the same goal with other individuals who are equally invested. It gives me another purpose in my running because I'm not running for just me. In victories and in loss, you always have your teammates with you.
GS: You were in National Honor Society in high school and you have received some all-academic honors as a Gopher. How important is school to you and how do you balance class and sports?
EE: One thing that has helped me in the transition to college and being a student-athlete is how involved I was in activites in high school. I did track and I was also on NHS, the speech and debate team, and I was in theatre; I can't really remember a time where I didn't have an activity. Although it is different now because I am doing just track, I think my background has helped me find a balance between school and sports.
Something that I had to look at in a different way was that in high school, you could be involved in many things and still excel in school and your other activities. In college, you can't do everything otherwise you will spread yourself too thin. My freshman year I wanted to be involved in many different student groups, but I realized I can support all of those groups without having to be heavily involved in all of them. I have to have a sense of what is it that I want out of each thing I am involved in. Like I said earlier, I want to reach my highest potential in track and in academics.
School has always been important to me. I am a first generation Nigerian-American, and from a young age my parents instilled in me the importance of education and learning. I know that at the end of the day any athlete in any sport can not compete for their whole life but you will always have your knowledge and wisdom that you have gained. I keep that in mind because not only does my major and academics really interest me, but I think it will take me the farthest at the end of the day.
GS: What is your best memory from being on this team so far?
EE: One good memory I have from this year -- well it's not a typical feel good memory -- but this year in the fall, we had really hard training and we had to run hills. So myself, Emma Spagnola, Kat Keller, and Sophia Anderson all had to run 400's up the hill. On the last rep, we were all kind of dying and really didn't want to do that last one. We all came together and fought through it, and at the end we were literally fighting through it together. That was a good memory because as I said before I really want to get to the point where I can say I reached my max, and my teammates in that moment helped me get there. If I am going to think of a more relaxed, fun memory, then I would say it is from my freshman year after we ran at nationals. After the meet, we got to go on a hike with some of the staff and our other teammates and we went to Voodoo Doughnuts in Oregon. I'm really big into donuts and don't remember the last time I had one unfortunately, but I am a huge fan!
GS: What is your training like? Has it changed much since you first started at the University of Minnesota?
EE: When I first came here, I think the coaches thought they would redshirt me. I was running with the jumpers, and they don't usually run more than 80 meters down a runway, so it was very light -- my freshman year. Looking back at that year, my training is exponentially harder now, but I think it is a good things because the more you improve, then the harder your training will become. Now, I am more open to the challenge; whereas, before, I was more afraid of it. It might hurt but it is going to make me better.
GS: On your second 200-meter dash race this season you PR'd and moved into third in program history. How does that feel? Do you have the 1976 school record on your radar?
EE: It is awesome, I ran the 100-meter and 200-meter in high school, so I love short sprints and the explosive aspects about them. Anytime I get to run the 200m, I'm like 'Awesome!' It's just like a treat...like a donut! It was fun to run that race. I haven't thought too much about the record, but that would be really cool if it happened. I think I am done running the 200m this year, but hopefully next year I can run it more.
GS: How has your collegiate track career so far lived up to your expectations?
EE: I think I was supposed to redshirt my freshman year, so it was my goal to not redshirt and potentially be an alternate on the 4x400-meter relay. I ended up being able to run at nationals on the 4x400m. I think my goals in general each year have been to do better than I did previously. I'm striving to finish on empty; I think that is the biggest goal of mine, to say at the end of my track career that I gave it my all and reached the peak of my potential.
GS: What was it like being a walk-on and working your way up to becoming one of the best sprinters in program history?
EE: I think it's been great! When I came in I wasn't thinking that I was going to redshirt or thinking about it in a negative way. If I was going to redshirt then it was just more time to grow and become better, but if I didn't then it would've been an opportunity to represent the team and compete. The biggest thing I kept in mind then, and that I still keep in mind, is to remember where I started, where I have come from, and be grateful for everything -- the peaks and the valleys. I am very strong in my faith, and I know anything is possible with God. I am grateful I have been able to be used by God in this sense. I was not expected to come this far, but I have by the grace of God. The ability I have been given is a blessing, and I want to use it glorify God, the one who has given it all to me.
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Players Mentioned
