Brad Hofmeister
Staff Writer
Not many people can jump 46 feet in three hops but Mira Costa’s newest track coach, Blessing Ufodiama can do this and more.
Ufodiama is a professional triple jumper who placed fourth in the 2014 Outdoor Triple Jump Championships and is a three time top ten finisher in the USA Outdoor Championships. She has had a long and highly touted career as a triple jumper and has decided to help high school jumpers improve.
“My favorite part about coaching track at Costa is that the kids are very positive and there is a great coaching staff,” Ufodiama said. “The group of coaches here are very supportive and work together really well by communicating and striving for the same goal.”
Photos: Blessing Ufodiama is the new Mira Costa jumping coach.
Ufodiama started coaching track, specifically high jump, triple jump, and long jump, at Costa in the 2016-2017 season. She is a Nigerian-American, born in Nigeria in 1981, and moved to America when she was just nine years old.
“I came to the U.S when I was very little and the first initial shock to me was the difference in the food,” Ufodiama said. “The food out here is very processed and flavorless and so it took me a very long time to get used to it.”
Website: The Mira Costa’s track teams website.
Ufodiama was hired by head track coach Maurice Russell to help improve the Mustangs in the jumping category. Junior jumper Mareda Michael says she has significantly improved her technique and attributes her improvement to Ufodiama’s coaching.
“Blessing has already helped me make a major leap in my jumping,” Michael said. “She is so passionate about track and it is contagious and makes all of us want to work harder.”
Website: The Mira Costa’s track team schedule.
Prior to working at Costa, Ufodiama coached at other schools around the South Bay including West Torrance, Else Allen High School, and Santa Rosa Junior College. Ufodiama said that she had very amazing experiences as a both a high school coach and private instructor.
“I enjoy coaching the kids that, regardless of their talent, are dedicated and want to learn to get better,” Ufodiama said. “However the only problem with high school coaching is the inconsistency of runners not showing up.”
Ufodiama attended Long Beach Poly High School and was a national champion in the triple jump before going on to attend Washington State racking up numerous accolades, including the Pac 10 Athlete of the Month award and the school record in the triple jump.
Video: New track coach, Blessing Ufodiama, has face to face interview regarding her previous visits to the Olympics, in 2014. Ufodiama has won a gold medal in the olympics in the past 2 olympic events.
“What I love most about track and field is that what you put in is what you get,” Ufodiama said. “It is an individual effort meaning you don’t rely on other teammates and don’t have to worry about them messing up while at the same time it is very easy to get recognized if you are doing well.”
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