Penn alumna Nia Akins qualifies for Paris Olympics in 800m

Four years after her final race as a Quaker, Nia Akins has punched her ticket to the Paris Olympics in dramatic fashion. 

“I think I’m dreaming. I’m just speechless,” Akins told NBC Sports.

Heading into competition this past Monday, New Jersey native Athing Mu was the odds on favorite in the event. However, the Tokyo Olympics 800m gold medal recipient faced a complete catastrophe. Crashing out shortly after the 200m mark following a collision, Mu was unable to stay ahead of her competition. 

The fall cleared the way for Akins to take the lead, which she held onto for the remaining duration of the race. Running a staggering personal record of 1:57.36, Akins won the trial to thundering applause as Mu brought up the rear. 

In the same race three years prior at the 2020 United States Olympic Trials, held in 2021, Akins suffered a similar fate to Mu as she was the one who crashed out during the race. Akins, like Mu, finished ninth following her fall. This time around, however, Akins was the one who was the beneficiary of a collapse. 

With Akins, two other runners will be making their Olympic debuts following impressive performances in the 800m event. Allie Wilson (1:58:32) and Juliette Whittaker (1:58.45) will be rounding out Team USA’s 800m team. 

Akins’ career at Penn was nothing short of successful. In her time running for the Red and Blue, she assembled an impressive catalog of accolades. Akins won nine events at Ivy League Heptagonal Track and Field Championships and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships three times while with the Quakers. Additionally, Akins was the 2019 Penn Relays College Athlete of the Meet, marking the first time a Penn athlete has been awarded the honor. 

“[Akins] always showed up at the big track meet when it was time, and she would always come through in that situation,” women’s track and field coach Steve Dolan told The Daily Pennsylvanian in 2020. “She definitely leads by example with her hard work and ability to respond in big situations.”

Going into Monday night’s Trials against the fiercest of competition and, following a terrible conclusion in her last Trials appearance, Akins did what she did all those years ago running at Franklin Field. She responded again in a big situation.