Ndudi making leaps to follow in Adeleke’s footsteps

Elizabeth Ndudi made history at last year’s edition of the Under-20 Europeans, becoming the first Irish athlete to win a gold medal in a field event at the championships; her priceless reaction to winning was almost as impressive as the jump itself.

Another Irish woman who has claimed European junior gold is Rhasidat Adeleke.

Adeleke completed her European junior double in 2021, where Ireland claimed a record four golds in the championships.

A medal in the junior divisions does not guarantee future success, but Ndudi is following in the footsteps of a few familiar names in Irish athletics. Mageean, Healy and Lavin are just some that are among the current international cohort, who while haven’t had linear success since junior glory, are most certainly at the peak of their powers.

Ndudi has continued her success since she leapt on to the athletics scene in 2023, breaking the senior long jump national record in her opening competition and jump of the outdoor season in April, something she says isn’t typical for her.

“It was my first outdoor competition of the season, and it was also the first jump of the long jump competition. So it came as a shock. I felt it was a big jump, but I didn’t know it was that big.

“My best jump has normally been my fourth or fifth, so the fact that it was my first jump I thought, ‘Well, that’s great start to the competition’,” Ndudi told RTÉ Sport ahead of the national championships.

The jump that didn’t feel that big put six-centimetres on the 14-year-old mark of Kelly Proper. Proper was a giant of Irish athletics in the 2010-era, collecting 17 national titles throughout the course of her career.

Ndudi, still only 19-years-of-age, is hoping to collect her first senior title this weekend at the National Athletics Championships, where she is looking forward to some home support in the Morton Stadium.

“I’m very excited to jump in front of the home crowd and then see all my team-mates from the Irish team, from the Under-20 national team and then seeing my coaches from DSD (Dundrum South Dublin Athletics Club),” said Ndudi.

The Dundrum athlete spent time growing up in Dublin and Nantes, France, but made the move to the United States on an athletics scholarship after her European junior success last year.

Ndudi is enrolled at the University of Illinois, where in her freshman year she was an All-American indoors, by placing seventh overall in the college championships.

For those not acquainted with the US college system, it’s a big achievement for someone in their first year. She also received an award for ‘freshman of the year’ in her college.

“They had, like, these Grammys for all the sports. So one freshman of the year with all the sports, like, combined in the school,” said Ndudi.

With such a big move at a young age familiar faces are welcomed and Ndudi met Adeleke earlier this year.

“I actually met her for the first time in Arkansas for NCAA Regionals, and it was funny. We bumped into each other because we have mutual friends. And she she thought we already met before, it was nice. We had a little chitchat and like, we got along,” recounted Ndudi.

Adeleke is not just available for chitchat and support, she has forged the way in terms of what is achievable in the American college system for Irish athletes. Despite a deep history of athletes making that journey, it is Adeleke that is touted as the trailblazer for the current generation.

Ndudi has been inspired by Adeleke’s journey and hopes to follow in her footsteps, which is certainly off to a promising start.

“Seeing another Irish athlete who also went to the US and seeing that she’s progressed so much in such a short amount of time, it just shows other athletes and myself like it could work out for me too.

“It’s good to just like take that opportunity even if it seems like a big risk, it seems to be have worked out great for her and it’s working out great for me.”

Elizabeth Ndudi will be in action in the women’s long jump on Sunday. Watch the 123.ie National Athletics Championships on Sunday from 12.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.