Track & Field | February 27, 2025
This edition of “Getting to Know” features sophomore sprinter Eddie Nketia. He talks about the transition from college football to track and field, the difference between New Zealand and the United States, and what he does on his days off.
Q: Why did you choose to come to USC?
E.N.: The USC heritage with how many Olympians have competed here. I also would love to follow this footstep as well and become a USC Olympian as well as the strong networking and strong coaching support that is here.
Q: Do you have any personal goals or milestones or PRs you want to achieve this season or during your time here?
E.N.: I would love to break the Oceania record in the 100m, which is at 9.83 seconds. Right now, I’m at 10.08, but I haven’t run since 2022 and I’m feeling much stronger and much faster. I’m just really wanting to just run already.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a student-athlete here?
E.N.: It just feels like one big family, and it feels like everybody helps each other out. Everybody’s so friendly, as we have people from different backgrounds. We’re still student-athletes at the end of the day. We all know how hard it can get with all the assignments and the exams.
Q: What are the biggest differences you notice between being in New Zealand and here in the U.S.?
E.N.: The U.S., it’s just big, the community is big. Compared to Australia and New Zealand, it is much bigger. I don’t see much differences other than the size of the community and also some of the slang as well.
Q: You previously played wide receiver at the University of Hawaii. What motivated you to transition from football at Hawaii to now sprinting here at USC?
E.N.: I started football very late, at 22 and obviously my goal was to make the NFL. I just trust in God and just trust my coaches in Hawaii. They had another plan for me, and they set me up with USC.
Q: Have you ever considered a return to football? Are you just wanting to go through this track route?
E.N.: Every single day, honestly, I just love football so much. I just wish I’d played when I was younger, but it is what it is. I’ll focus on the track route and hopefully make the best of it with track….but maybe in another life, I might be a football player.
Q: Your father was the New Zealand 100m…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at USC Athletics…