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Nugent steps out of comfort zone on to plane to Budapest

Published:Thursday | July 13, 2023 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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Ackera Nugent gives thanks following her second-place run in the women’s 100-metre hurdles final at the JAAA/PUMA National Senior and Junior Championships inside the National Stadium on Sunday.
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Ackera Nugent gives thanks following her second-place run in the women’s 100-metre hurdles final at the JAAA/PUMA National Senior and Junior Championships inside the National Stadium on Sunday.
Ackera Nugent (right) and women’s 100-metre hurdles national champion Megan Tapper embrace after the two finished one-two in the event’s final at the JAAA/PUMA National Senior and Junior Championships inside the National Stadium at the weekend.
Gladstone Taylor
Ackera Nugent (right) and women’s 100-metre hurdles national champion Megan Tapper embrace after the two finished one-two in the event’s final at the JAAA/PUMA National Senior and Junior Championships inside the National Stadium at the weekend.
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COLLEGIATE OUTDOOR hurdles champion Ackera Nugent has credited grabbing a place on her first senior World Championships team to going away from her comfort zone and having a renewed belief in her ability.

Nugent finished second in the 100-metre hurdles final, clocking 12.67 seconds to make the senior team in a year that saw her win the NCAA outdoor title. This was her first season on the collegiate circuit, running at the University of Arkansas.

Nugent shared the euphoria of her achievement with three-time national champion, Megan Tapper, saying the realisation of what had just transpired was everything she had hoped for at the start of the year.

“It is everything that I really imagined because it was a goal that I set for myself. It wasn’t all bout winning. It was about going out there, competing to the best of my ability. I haven’t competed in a month and this is my first competition since then, so it is a really good feeling,” Nugent said.

For Nugent, who won the under-20 title in 2021 in Kenya, the key to unlocking the door to her first senior team was getting out of her comfort zone thanks to her coach at Arkansas, Chris Johnson.

“I’ve always had talent and potential I just didn’t believe in myself as much. And having a coach that makes me uncomfortable and be OK with feeling that, is great because that is what I needed,” Nugent said.

“It’s being able to be coachable by your coach and following instructions. So I think that is the major factor.”

Nugent’s whirlwind year has also come with a big moment as she is the latest athlete to sign with Adidas. She made the announcement on her Instagram page on Sunday after she had booked her ticket to Budapest.

Now re-setting her goals for the big stage, Nugent says she is trusting the process day by today to reach the potential she knows she has.

“Every time you have a major championship, you set goals for yourself. I am just taking it one step at a time and one day at a time,” Nugent said.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com