Photo Courtesy of Mizzou Athletics
Many young athletes experience a moment when they decide they want to compete at a higher level, whether that be in college or as a professional. For Missouri Track & Field senior Euphenie Andre, that moment occurred on a school bus.
Andre, a triple jumper, was sitting on a school bus after a high school track meet when her coach informed everyone that one of her teammates had broken the school’s triple jump record.
This teammate was someone Andre was not particularly fond of, so when she learned about the record, she decided to do something about it.
As soon as she got off the bus, Andre marched up to her coach and asked to be put in the triple jump. A couple of meets later, the record was hers.
Ever since that day on the bus, Andre has worked hard to make her dreams a reality. So far, she’s doing a pretty good job.
Andre has accomplished many things as a triple-jumper at Missouri. She won the silver medal at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association’s under-23 athletics competition in 2023. She also was named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American first team in 2021 and second team in 2023.
Andre also leaped into Missouri’s all-time top-10 triple jump distances with a jump of 13.31 meters to place second in the indoor jump in 2021, and a jump of 13.42 meters to place fourth in the outdoor jump in 2023.
Clearly, Andre has racked up numerous accolades over her six years at Missouri. Which of those achievements is she the most proud of? According to Andre, the answer is none of the above.
“If I had to choose my biggest track and field accomplishment, it would be going from a walk-on to earning a scholarship,” Andre said. “That moment meant everything to me because I had to fight for it. I was relentless, I had extreme tunnel vision and refused to take no for an answer.”
Coming out of high school, Andre didn’t receive a single college offer. Now, she is the first woman in Missouri history to win a Southeastern Conference title in the triple jump.
Even though Andre has seen great success in college, she had to jump through hoops to get there. One obstacle was getting admitted to the University of Missouri.
Andre wanted to attend MU for multiple reasons. While the track and field team was a huge draw, there was another enticing factor: the university’s renowned journalism school.
“When I found out that one of my favorite journalists, Elizabeth Vargas, was a Mizzou alum, I was sold,” Andre said.
Though Missouri was an appealing option for Andre, it was not her dream school. She wanted to go to the University of Florida, but she wasn’t accepted.
Initially, Andre was rejected from Missouri too, but she refused to take no for an answer.
“Thankfully, MU allows students to re-test,” Andre said. “I locked in, improved my scores by a landslide and earned my spot.”
Getting into the university was one thing, but earning a spot on Missouri’s Division I track team was another.
Andre was up for the challenge.
She applied the same work ethic and determination that had gotten her enrolled at Missouri to secure her spot as a triple jumper.
“I found my future coach, Iliyan Chamov’s, email and reached out,” Andre said. “Looking back, I must have caught him on a good day because Chamov is the real deal. Given that I barely had any achievements under my belt at the time, it was a long shot.”
Getting on the track team may have seemed like a remote possibility, but it worked out. Andre was given an opportunity to train with the team, and she was eventually offered a spot.
Making the team was an immense accomplishment for a small-town athlete from Dover Plains, New York, but Andre struggled to find a sense of belonging.
“Unlike my teammates in the jumps group, I wasn’t recruited,” Andre said. “I didn’t even know what an official visit was until I got to college and heard my teammates talk about theirs. As a walk-on, I felt like I had no margin for error.”
She said she also faced mental and physical challenges as an undergraduate in 2021 and 2022. She used religion and a support system of family and friends to emerge from the dark times with a newfound strength.
“Looking back, those hardships didn’t break me — they refined me,” Andre said. “They shaped me into the person and athlete I am today: resilient, relentless, and more unstoppable than ever.”
Years ago, inspiration struck Andre on a school bus. She was motivated to compete in the triple jump and break her high school record. That motivation led her to become one of Missouri’s most decorated triple jumpers.
With the conclusion of her collegiate career, she is ready for what comes next as a professional athlete.
“I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead,” Andre said. “I’m ready for this next chapter and I’m coming for everything I’ve worked for.”
Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Stella Spragg and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com