Running by the competition one step at a time.
On Jan. 21, Penn junior track and field star Fore Abinusawa was named Ivy League Women's Athlete of the Week for setting Ivy League-leading times for the 60m and 200m while finishing first and second place in those events respectively at the Quaker Invitational. Competing against a host of local schools in the newly opened Ott Center, Abinusawa credits her focus on meticulous improvement for her recent success.
"I think what helps keep me going every day, whether it's at every practice or at meets, is trying to pick one thing to work on or pick one thing to try and do better," Abinusawa said. "Letting those changes and steps that I make guide me to becoming the best athlete and best version of myself that I can be."
In the 60m, Abinusawa not only secured first place with a time of 7.30 seconds — but also marked the fastest time in the Ivy League this season and 20th fastest time in the NCAA. Leading the pack by a total of .19 seconds, the Fort Washington, Pa. native treats every race as a chance to tweak her technique towards perfection. A self-described "student of the game", the ability to attack every race as a chance for improvement has been a happily accepted challenge.
"I got maybe, like, a step or so closer to, sort of getting to where I wanted to do... I know that there's still things that I can improve on again, is just really exciting to me as an athlete," Abinusawa said. "It shows me that there's still so much potential for growth, but it makes me excited that the things that I'm doing in practice and the things that I'm trying to execute in races are really paying off.
By finishing second in the 200m with a time of 23.97 seconds, behind only Monmouth jumper and hurdler Yasmeen Tinsley's time of 23.77 seconds, Abinusawa set her second Ivy League-leading time of the day. Not fully acclimated to the 200m yet, claiming that she still needs to "learn and understand how to tackle" the event, Abinusawa sees her performance as just the beginning despite currently outperforming the rest of the Ancient Eight this season.
Setting both records in the newly founded Ott Center, she also finds herself grateful for the amazing facilities - knowing that the state-of-the-art setting for the Red and Blue is a special opportunity.
"Penn track and field is something that I'm so grateful for, that we have the opportunity to have access to such a high-class facility. It's incredible," Abinusawa said.
Abinusawa followed up her performance with successful races at the Penn 10 Elite meet — placing second in the 200m with a time of 24.10 and setting Penn's third-best time of the year in the 4x400m.
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