Reaching Her Full Potential: Chioma Njoku’s Journey From Delaware to Maryland Ends With NCAA Championship Berth

Every Sunday while in high school, Chioma Njoku trained vigorously at Train Hard Win Big in Edgemoor, Delaware, to refine her throwing skills. 

She was accompanied by many other student-athletes during her sessions, as the owner of the gym, Barry Swanson, attracts many of the top throwers in the area who are seeking to pursue a track and field career at the collegiate level. One of the individuals Njoku trained alongside was Kayla Thorpe. 

Though they lived in different states — Njoku in Bear, Delaware, and Thorpe in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania — they were separated by only a 45-minute drive. This caused the pair to also cross paths at high school meets. 

A friendship ensued as a result of their weekly interactions and commonalities. Unbeknownst to them at the time, it would carry over to the collegiate level and become the driving force behind their decision to team up at the University of Maryland for the 2023-24 track and field season.

“Every Sunday, from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m., we were training together as high schoolers,” Njoku said. “When you're training for that long with someone on a weekly basis, you get to know them very well and become close friends with them.”

Thorpe competed in the javelin as the lone Terp at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. A year later, Njoku will be the lone Terp competing at the 2025 outdoor championships, where she will participate in the hammer throw at the same location. 

The Terps have had a thrower compete at the NCAA outdoor championships in three consecutive years overall, as Jeff Kline qualified in the shot put on the men’s side in 2023. The feat is one that Maryland’s throws coach, Tyler Burdorff, is especially proud of. 

“It means the world to me,” he said. “When I recruit people, when I think about what type of coach I want to be and what I want to do for the group and the kids that I have, it stems with success. Getting to NCAAs for a lot of these kids is the highest level. Just putting them in a position to have the opportunity to qualify and be confident and composed enough to get to this level and then actually do it — I think that's the big thing.”

Njoku — like Thorpe — comes from an immigrant family and opted to spend her final two seasons as a Terp. But Njoku’s journey to College Park differs slightly from that of her close friend. 

A Nigerian-American, Njoku was born in Philadelphia before moving to Delaware to attend high school. She was first introduced to track and field in middle school, where she competed in various events, including the long jump, shot put and several running events. 

Her transition to becoming a full-time thrower occurred in high school, while she was at Padua Academy, a track and field powerhouse that boasts 10 consecutive state titles. She also played basketball there and didn’t focus solely on track and field until her senior year. 

“My throws coach took one look at me, and he was like, ‘You're going to throw,’” Njoku said. “He just saw me, saw my height, saw my build and was like ‘You're going to be a thrower.’”

Njoku began competing in the shot put and discus throw at Padua Academy, winning an outdoor state championship in each of her four years. She also won two individual indoor state championships in back-to-back seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19. 

Her success caught the eye of college recruiters, earning her an athletic scholarship to the University of Delaware. There, Njoku continued competing less than half an hour from home. She was recruited primarily to compete in the shot put. 

Njoku was later introduced to the hammer and weight throws. But it wasn’t until her junior year that coaches suggested she focus solely on the hammer throw. The decision paid off, as she made her postseason debut in the event as a senior. But fresh off her successful 2022-23 campaign, Njoku entered the transfer portal, where she was sought after by coaches to compete in the hammer and weight throws.  

Burdorff was immediately interested once he discovered Njoku was looking for a new home. He was already familiar with her, as Njoku was a freshman at Delaware during his first year coaching at the Division I level at Towson. Both schools are part of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).

Burdorff recalled coaching the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds for the hammer throw in the CAA championships in 2021. However, it was Njoku who beat both competitors, placing second with a 53.39-meter throw as a redshirt freshman. 

“I vividly remember once I saw her name and saw that she was looking for a home outside Delaware,” Burdorff said. “I was like, ‘I remember you very clearly, because you beat us.’ … It was interesting to see everything come full circle.”

Njoku was partially drawn to Maryland by Thorpe. The pair competed against each other for another two seasons collegiately, as Thorpe attended Towson from 2020-22, where Burdorff coached her for a season before accepting his position at Maryland.

Thorpe transferred to Maryland in 2022, where she wrapped up her junior and senior seasons as a Terp. Njoku followed a year later, and it was Thorpe who spoke highly of Burdorff and Maryland’s throwing program that sealed the deal. 

“She said, ‘Coach Tyler is so awesome,’” Njoku said. “I heard really great things about the throws coach at Maryland, both from my high school coach and Kayla. I knew Kayla was having a great experience here, but she encouraged me to look into the school and reach out to him.”

Burdorff saw Njoku’s potential. He thought she was already a solid thrower, but could add distance to her throws with his guidance. The coach voiced his belief to Njoku during a conversation they had while she was still in the transfer portal. 

He asked her to send a video of her best throw. Njoku sent a clip of a 57-58 meter throw from her senior year at Delaware, and Burdorff was blown away. Yet, he promised Njoku would throw 65+ meters if she transferred to Maryland and competed for him. 

Njoku picked up where she left off at Maryland, participating in six competitions, earning five top-10 finishes, while winning one event during her senior indoor season. She then strategically redshirted during the outdoor season, a decision influenced by academics, as well as to give her an extra year of training. 

Already boasting a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and medical sciences, Njoku was pursuing her master’s in management studies. Therefore, the redshirt allowed her more time to fulfill her degree requirements. Njoku also allotted the extra time to work with Coach Burdorff to refine her throwing skills. 

“I knew that I had a lot of untapped potential,” Njoku said. “There were just some habits that I needed to break. Physically, I am very strong. But the thing about the hammer throw is you have to know how to apply that strength for it to really go.”

The extra work paid its dividends, and Burdorff fulfilled his promise, as Njoku logged a school record this outdoor season in the hammer throw twice. Her most recent mark was achieved in the NCAA First Round in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 29, securing her spot in the NCAA Championships. She placed sixth in the event with a new school record of 65.60 meters. The score improved her previous school record of 65.37m.  

As Njoku eyes All-American status in Eugene, she reflects on her journey. She regards her decision to transfer to Maryland as an incredible period of growth, not only athletically and academically, but also personally. 

After recently earning her master’s degree, Njoku is also pursuing a healthcare career, following her track and field career. 

“I feel like being able to grow, not only physically and athletically, but spiritually, mentally and emotionally, all of those things coupled together, allowed me to reach my full potential,” Njoku said. “The confidence that I have gained through this sport is confidence that I'll be able to apply to any area of my life after this. I'm infinitely grateful for Maryland, and I know that I made the right decision for myself.”