Posted by By Miebi Senge on
In the countdown to this weekend's 16th NNPC/Mobil Athletics Champion-ships in Abuja, Sports Vanguard throws open the best of Nigerian thrower Vivian Chukwuemeka-Peters, who continues to a leader at the Azusa Pacific University's (Cougher) Track & Field team.
In the countdown to this weekend's 16th NNPC/Mobil Athletics Champion-ships in Abuja, Sports Vanguard throws open the best of Nigerian thrower Vivian Chukwuemeka-Peters, who continues to a leader at the Azusa Pacific University's (Cougher) Track & Field team.
A senior majoring in Social Works, Vivian has won all there is in the United States Collegiate Athletics calender. Although without an Olympics medal, Vivian holds the Commonwealth title from the Manchester 2002 Games and the all African titles.
Ranked 22 in the June 27th IAAF issue, Vivian is probably the most consistent Nigerian woman in the circuit. Born in 1977 in Lagos, Vivian is all set for next August's IAAF World Championships in Athletics, in Helsinki, Finland.
This is vintage Vivian Chukwuemeka- Peters unplugged!
THIS YEAR (2005): The NAIA's premier thrower, senior Vivian Chukwuemeka (Choo-kwa-uh-make-uh) already owns 4 NAIA throwing records of a possible 6 …… Has been named Outstanding Female Performer in 4 of the 6 NAIA Championship Meets in which she has competed …… Is an 11-time NAIA champ and 14-time All-American …… Extremely strong and quick …… Will compete only during the indoor season and redshirt the outdoor campaign while looking ahead to the 2005 season.
2004: Led the Cougars back to the NAIA indoor and outdoor crowns …… For the second straight year was named the Most Outstanding Female Performer of the NAIA Outdoor Championships after winning the shot (58' 3") and discus (167' 3") while finishing second in the hammer (181' 7") …… On the indoor circuit, won the NAIA title for a third straight year in both the shot (56' 11") and 20-pound weight throw (60' 7", NAIA record) …… At the GSAC championships in Fresno, won the discus, shot and hammer (GSAC- and school-record 186' 2") …… Broke the school records in the hammer (190' 1" vs. Whitworth) and weight throw (63' 6" at Northern Arizona).
2003: Put together a fantastic 2003 sophomore campaign in which she led the Cougars to the NAIA indoor and outdoor national championships …… Scored 20 points at the indoor meet by setting a pair of NAIA records in the shot (59' 2") and 20-pound weight throw (60' 6") …
… Then tallied another 26 points at the outdoor championships by winning the shot (58' 7") and discus (NAIA record 186' 9") and finishing third in the hammer (181' 7") …… Named Most Outstanding Female Performer of both NAIA championship meets, sharing the indoor honor with teammate Brianna Carstensen …… Finished second in Mt. SAC Relays shot with a African continent record put of 60' 5" …… At the GSAC Championships, repeated her title in the shot and set a conference record in the discus (173' 11")
2002: As a freshman, led Azusa Pacific to a pair of second-place finishes at the NAIA indoor and outdoor track & field championships …… At the indoor meet in Johnson City, Tenn., won the shot (57' 3") and the weight throw (NAIA record 57' 1") and as a result was named the meet's co-Most Outstanding Female Performer …… Came back at the outdoor championship meet to win the shot with aforementioned NAIA record and finished fifth in the hammer (160' 11") …… Set the GSAC record in the shot (58' 10") and hammer (159' 6").
INTERNATIONAL: Is coming off an excellent 2003 summer in which she won the shot (59' 5"), finished second in the discus (179' 10') and took a third in the hammer (185' 6") at the All-African Games …… At the World Championships in France, finished ninth in the shot (57' 3") …… Won the gold medal in the shot put (57' 6") at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England …… Was ninth in the discus at that same meet …… At the 2002 African Championships in Tunisia, won her first-ever continental gold by winning the shot (57' 9") and then got the silver in the discus (177' 7") Competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, finishing 14th in the shot with a put of 57' 2" …… Won the gold medal in the shot at the 1999 South Africa Games …… Holds the Nigerian records in the discus and hammer.
PERSONAL: Born March 4, 1975, in Nigeria to Joshua (civil servant) and Veronica (teacher) Chukwuemeka …… Attended Usar-Un-Deen College during her high school years …… Majoring in social work …… Would like to eventually work with teenagers and teach.
*additional reports/statistics source: www.apu.edu