Ngozi Iwu Runs to the Head of the Pack
June 21, 1999 | Indoor Track
February 12, 1999
By Mark McKinzey, Texas Tech athletic media relations student assistant - Ngozi Iwu has been setting records for the Texas Tech women's track and field team since she arrived to Lubbock in 1997. Her immediate impact and dedication to running track has earned her the recognition of being one of the top women's runners in the Big 12 conference and one of the leaders of this year's team.
Iwu graduated from Hastings high school in Houston in 1997. During her senior year, she placed second at the state meet in the 800-meters and claimed the district title. Over the course of prep career, Iwu was the three-time district runner up and qualified for regionals in the 800, 400 and 1600 from her sophomore to her senior year at Hastings. She earned the team's MVP for three consecutive years and helped the cross-country team qualify for the regional meet in 1995 and 1996.
In her first year of competition, Iwu was redshirted for the indoor track season, but debuted later in the spring for outdoor competition. Almost immediately, she showed glimpses of what was to come. Iwu captured first at the Abilene Christian University Track and Field Classic with a time of 55.28. More impressively, she took first place in the 400-meters at the Angelo Relays with a mark of 55.00. It would the top time run by any Red Raider women in the outdoor 400-meters in 1998.
When she returned to Texas Tech to begin training for the 1998 campaign, Director of Track and Field Greg Sholars, decided on a different training angle for Iwu.
"I placed Ngozi on the cross-country practice squad just to build endurance for running sprints," Sholars said
The moved proved beneficial for the both her and cross country team. Iwu finished the season competing in four meets including the Big 12 Championships. On top of being a contributing member of the team, she laid a foundation of rigorous training that would benefit her when track began.
While training with the cross country team, Iwu excelled so much that her cross country coach, Dave Smith, saw an realm of unlimited potential.
"Her combination of strength and speed has made her tough to beat in the 400-800 meter range," Smith said. "Her biggest asset is her work ethic. She is definitely one of the hardest workers on both the men's and women's teams."
In her first season of competing in the indoor circuit, Iwu has proved the time spent running all those miles was well worth it.
Iwu has already captured three Texas Tech records with her performances this indoor season. She earned the indoor record and Athletic Training Center record with her 1:22.85 first-place run in the 600-meters at the Red Raider Open on January 16. Also falling to Iwu was the indoor record in the 400-meters. She recorded a time of 55.21 while taking second in the race on February 6 at the Cannon IV Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana. So far, Iwu set the indoor record in the 400 three different times this season.
Perhaps the only pieces left in the puzzle for Iwu this indoor season is to win her race at the Big 12 championships and qualify for the NCAA indoor national championships and a return visit to Indianapolis.
Sholars likens Iwu to Suziann Reid, one of the University of Texas' top women's runners. He feels that her potential to beat Reid is rapidly increasing. This season Iwu's times have competed just behind Reid's.
" The only reason Ngozi as a freshman finished behind Reid was because of the lack of experience she had," Sholars said. "Hopefully, she will be able to close the gap this year."
With a two years eligibility remaining and a true commitment and devotion to the team, Iwu will not settle for second best.
" I have come this far and I can go even further," Iwu said.
In just the two short years she has been here, Iwu has shown her self as a tough dedicated runner with the potential to top her already impressive times. With two years left of outdoor eligibility and three years left for indoor, Ngozi Iwu will be a major force to be reckoned with on the Big 12 and national track scene.