The Force is Strong in Obi

The world of college track can sometimes lose a program in its shuffle. The national powerhouse programs typically draw the lion's share of the attention and solid programs are left plying their trade well under the radar.

Despite being an ACC program, Boston College runners fly strong and true despite operating under their conference opponent's skyscraper-sized shadows. An example of the success that can happen in Chestnut Hill, junior Obinna Nwankwo is poised to potentially bring the Eagles a measure of light against ACC foes.

Nwankwo broke the school's 400-meter record this year and has already established himself as one of the best sprinters in Boston College history. A local product from nearby Canton, he's also looking to lay the foundation for a team searching for its first conference championship point in six years.

"This has been a good year," Nwankwo said in a recent interview. "It's been one my best years personally on the track, and breaking a record is something that gives me tremendous confidence. As a freshman, I wasn't as good as I expected, and as a sophomore, I was good but I also got hurt. So as a junior, I have the confidence to know that I can run as well as I had hoped. Every race, I want to improve because I want to help put Boston College on the running map since we have a program where everyone works so hard."

"In high school, Obi suffered a serious quad injury," track and field head coach Matt Kerr said. "He battled his freshman and sophomore years at BC to stay healthy. Through his perseverance, Obi not only overcame his injury but has become one of the best 400 meter athletes in BC history."

As is the case in most record-breaking situations, it's not a case of simply having it happen. As a runner, Nwankwo's commitment to training and strategy towards how he attacks each race has made his resurgence, breakout and career a product of the work as opposed to any form of accident.

"The 400-meter race, in my opinion, is the hardest race to run," he said, "and I didn't have the lights-out speed as a kid (that other sprinters have). I just knew how to run, but I didn't like running a 5K. So I found the 400 intriguing because you can be fast at the beginning but also out-kick your competition at the end."

Without the overall speed in his favor, he turned to his training to hone those skills. Nwankwo credited his practices with getting him over the proverbial hump in his running.

"On the track, we run 200 intervals and 300-500 intervals," he explained. "Running distance helps you prepare with a great workout, and it helps you ladder down to where you should be for the 400. It builds endurance and creates power at the end of the race, especially when we're doing outside lifting at the Plex and at Conte Forum."

As a runner, the training helped Nwankwo work in the races themselves. Owing to his background, he employs a strategy where he starts out slow and then kicks into overdrive on the second lap.

"I hate to lose energy during a race," he said. "So on that second lap, I haul."

"Obi has matured as a leader on and off the field," Kerr said of his star runner. "He truly represents what it means to be both a student and an athlete. Obi demonstrates passion for our sport, his pride in Boston College, and dedication to our team and his teammates on a daily basis."

Track has a unique way of combining the individual against the team. While individuals earn recognition for their accomplishments on the track or in field events, team scoring typically can be overlooked, even though team championships have been awarded annually since 1921.

While Nwankwo established himself as one of Boston College's most elite individual runners ever, he still has a fire burning for his team. The ACC is widely considered one of the best track conferences in the nation, and while individuals may taste limited success, team points can be especially hard to come by.

It's been four years since Boston College scored a point in the ACC Championships event. For a junior who's never seen it happen, that's something that drives a burning desire.

"I want to run fast enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships and I want to help the relay set a Boston College record," Nwankwo said of himself. "But the main goal is to score points at the ACC league meet. Whether it's running a relay or individually, I want to score those points and help show everyone what Boston College is all about."

"This year, Obi has remained consistent and is ready to produce in a big way," Kerr said. "His indoor 400m school record not only represents a milestone in his career but has helped to elevate our spring programs and athletes like Nick Nash. Obi and Nick are pushing each other to new heights.

"Additionally, Obi's leadership was recognized by his teammates as this year's pick of captain," he continued. "Our team is looking forward to a tremendous spring season led by one of the best sprinters we've ever had."

Players Mentioned

Obinna Nwankwo

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