By Layla James
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
When Olamide Enakjekpo first joined track and field during her sophomore year of high school, she did not expect shot put to become the event that would eventually take her to NCAA Regionals.
“I originally tried out to be a sprinter,” Enakjekpo said with a laugh. “But I was in a higher weight class than everyone else.”
That quickly changed once coaches handed athletes a shot put and asked them to throw.
“They had everyone throw it, and I threw it the farthest,” she said.
That one throw unexpectedly introduced Enakjekpo to the event that would shape her athletic career.
Now as a transfer student at Towson University and a member of the track and field team, Enakjekpo recently qualified for NCAA Regionals in shot put, becoming Towson’s first female thrower to reach the regional stage since 2024.
For Enakjekpo, the journey from high school beginner to regional qualifier has been built on growth, discipline and constantly redefining what success means.
“My interest really sparked once I knew it was possible to be a collegiate athlete,” Enakjekpo said. “My coach pulled me aside and told me, ‘You can go to college for this.’ I’ve always wanted to train and be an athlete, but I never had the opportunity before. Once it presented itself, I grabbed it.”
Like many college athletes, Enakjekpo said her goals evolved once she entered the collegiate level.
“Being the best in your conference is great in high school,” she said. “But when you get to college and everyone else was also the best in their conference, you have to recalibrate your definition of who’s really the best.”
Instead of comparing herself to others, Enakjekpo said she now focuses on challenging herself every day in training.
“My goals now as a collegiate athlete are to challenge myself in any aspect I can every day,” she said. “And by the laws of physics, input and output should work.”
Her hard work paid off this season when she officially punched her ticket to regionals — though the moment came with mixed emotions after a disappointing conference championship performance.
“Honestly, making regionals this year is a surreal feeling because I did not do as well as I was expected to do at our conference championship,” Enakjekpo said. “I came third in my event.”
Despite finishing behind two competitors at the conference meet, Enakjekpo had already secured a regional qualifying mark earlier in the season. Neither of the athletes who placed ahead of her ultimately qualified.
“For those who don’t speak track terms, this means people beat me, and they didn’t even beat me well enough to go to regionals,” she said. “So that’s how I feel about regionals — and I’m coming to avenge myself.”
Then she paused before confidently adding: “I will be an All-American.”
That confidence and energy are part of what has made Enakjekpo stand out within Towson’s program.
Strength coach Amit Vohra said Enakjekpo’s presence impacts everyone around her.
“She’s a very dedicated and hardworking athlete who pushes herself and others in the room always,” Vohra said. “Her strength is crazy, and she’s a beast.”
Vohra also described her as the team’s loudest voice and biggest hype woman — someone who naturally motivates teammates during workouts and practices.
Towson head coach Consandria Walker-Hall said adding Enakjekpo to the program has been a major asset to the team culture.
“With the energy she brings and enforces, she’s a natural-born leader,” Walker-Hall said. “Ranking top 50 in the nation and being able to go to regionals is a huge accomplishment.”
Through the years, Enakjekpo said the sport has taught her more than just throwing technique. It has also taught her about body awareness, discipline and intentionality.
“One thing I’ve learned throughout throwing is body complexity,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot about the muscle, mind and body connection [and] how to strengthen certain areas and the importance of information, awareness and intentionality.”
She credits much of that growth to Towson throw’s coach Pugh, who helped elevate both her physical and mental approach to the sport.
As Enakjekpo prepares to compete on one of the biggest stages of her career, she continues to carry the same mindset that started unexpectedly with one throw years ago: take the opportunity in front of you and make the most of it.