Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has helped inspire Nevada freshman sprinter Magdaline George from afar.
“Watching Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, I was like, this is what I want,” George said. “So watching that just confirmed to me that I’m going to be a sprinter and then I went for it.”
George started running track in high school in 2019. She was competing at the University of Cross River, Calabar in Nigeria when associate head coach Scott Williamson reached out. With the support of George’s four brothers, she couldn’t pass up an opportunity of a lifetime and moved to Nevada ahead of the Spring 2024 semester.
“I only know America is the land of opportunity to increase my skill, better my skill and take my career a little step further,” George said. “They (brothers) were so proud and excited about it. They encouraged me to take it though. At first I was like, ‘oh ill be missing them’ and they’re like, ‘no you can go for it we can always meet, come for holidays and all of that’.”
It’s been a journey that hasn’t come without some challenges along the way, although it’s gotten easier with time. George’s teammates Oke Gift Ovedje and Meekness Dogonyaro are also from Nigeria.
“The weather, the snow, the food,” George said of the most difficult adjustments. “I’m adapting very well and it has been a wonderful experience for me translating from one geographical area to another it’s been amazing. I love it.”
George hasn’t skipped a beat on the track despite limited training time early on while waiting to be cleared by the NCAA. In just one season, she’s inked her name in Nevada’s indoor and outdoor record books for multiple events. During her first outdoor season, she ran the second-fastest time in Nevada history in the 100 meter (11.41) and is third all-time record in the 200 (23.22) meter race. During her first indoor season, she ran the fourth-fastest time in the 200 meter race (24.40 in altitude) and sixth-fastest time 60 meter race (7.59 in altitude).
“Maggie came in as already a really good athlete,” said Nevada head coach Shantel Twiggs. “To come in January, come thousands of miles away from home and getting cleared to even be able to practice. We ran a couple of indoor races, we went from running like 25 seconds at 200 meters to 24 seconds. We were just behind in training because during that clearance process, she couldn’t train with the team, it was winter. But I tell you that young lady just settled right in and it’s been fun, it’s been a learning experience, because we we had to quickly figure out each other, figure out what she needed and how I can get her to be where she is right now. So it’s been a lot of fun. I keep telling her that she’s awakened the sleeping giant that’s inside of her. I think she has room to drop a little more, I think the school records are in sight for her.”
The freshman has set lofty goals at this week’s NCAA West Preliminary, which begins on Thursday for the Wolf Pack in Arkansas. George is one of seven athletes to represent Nevada and will compete in the 100 and 200 meter races. She hopes to hit the Olympic benchmark time for Paris this Summer, which is an 11.07 in the 100 meter race and 22.57 for the 200 meter race.
“Hopefully during the preliminary, I can hit that mark and then qualify for Olympics,” George added. “I want to improve my time, every meet should be like a PR for me. That’s the goal I’m setting for myself. I know it might not be, but that’s what I want.”
Added teammate Halyn Senegal: Maggie is amazing, her personality is great. She’s very uplifting, sweet, funny. She’s very very fast. She’s the fastest person I’ve ever seen with my own eyes. Just to see that type of speed every day is just very inspiring.
You can watch the feature on Magdalene George below.
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