A Championship Weekend
USA’s 800 Meters - INDOOR and OUTDOOR Champion
Nia Akins 800 Meter USA Indoor and Outdoor Champion
I’m speechless, proud, and not surprised at all. Nia Akins is your 2023 800-meter USA Champion, headed to Budapest, Hungary, for Worlds!
It’s been a challenging three years for both of my girls because they are at an age where their mother had to let go, let God, and let them figure out what they want. That’s hard for a parent who’s been so involved in their growth; not sure I was always right, but I did the best I could with what I knew. My only goal was to keep them busy, away from the boys (for a little while at least), and I hoped they would be ten times better than me. I never told them to chase gold medals, be Ivy League material, or win a National title, but here we are, and I’m not mad at either of my girls!
Nia RBHS Track | Mariana SD Club Soccer
Nia started running track at seven or eight years old. She hated every minute of it. The youth track club’s training style was too intense for such little kids, and she dreaded going to practice. So, I got my coaching certification, jumped in, and made training fun. The other kids loved it; Nia still hated it and eventually walked away from the sport to play soccer. Soccer was great until she started getting knocked around on the soccer field because she was one of the smallest players. It wasn’t until one particular soccer game in San Diego when Nia got tossed hard from behind, and before we could respond, she jumped up so quickly, ran the girl down (goal post to goal post), took the ball, and scored! 👀 We didn’t think she had it in her, but right then, I said out loud, Nia will be an 800-meter runner! Everyone looked at me like, ‘Where did that come from?’. I had no idea, but I said it, and here we are!
It wasn’t until high school, freshman year, that Nia decided she wanted to run Cross Country. I couldn’t believe it when she told me. I had to hold my composure while doing the happy dance inside my soul! 💃🏽 She loved it so much that her teammates later convinced her to run track with them. No one knew she would get hooked. She loved it! She started watching running videos and became obsessed with Brenda Martinez's running style. She began to run down teammates and break school records. It had become an obsession; even for me, who loves running, it was a little scary. “Mom, look at this race, look at that race, see what she did!” But being in Eugene and watching Nia run down a very talented field of competitors (women we are both fans of) was priceless and exciting, and it became a full-circle moment. It all made sense. This was her dream, and she made it happen!
It’s been a bumpy ride as a professional FEMALE athlete, but she didn’t give up. Like that soccer game thirteen years ago, she got back up with that same fight in her eyes and determination in her soul to score and win! I couldn’t ask for anything better than that! It’s been a great weekend. I can’t believe how fast it came and went. Seeing her smile from ear to ear from something she orchestrated makes my heart sing! I enjoyed every minute of this weekend and am so happy for her!
Congratulations and Happy Freak’n Birthday month, Nia!
Check out her music HERE.
