Ackera Nugent reflected on the challenges of transitioning to professional athletics, admitting that unlike in college, she can no longer afford an off day as she strives for consistency and success.
Jamaican youngster Ackera Nugent has opened up about the hustles of turning professional after shattering Masai Russell’s world lead in the 60m hurdles.
Nugent was in a class of her own as she clocked 7.75 seconds to cross the finish line at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF.
Her time surpassed Masai Russell’s 7.76 seconds clocked at the Millrose Games where Nugent was disqualified. After the race, Ackera Nugent disclosed that her life has greatly changed since the major career milestone she attained in 2024.
Even for eilte Olympians like Gabby Thomas, the pressures of track and filed can sometime get overwhelming and she has her own way of getting away from it.
Ackera Nugent signed with Adidas in 2023 and decided to turn professional after winning the indoor and outdoor national championships in college. Close to two years, she has yet to adjust to the professional schedule.
Nugent disclosed that as a collegiate athlete, she used to have a lot of free time and it never really mattered if she lost or won races. However, as a professional, she admitted that there is some pressure to always excel.
“I’m really happy to produce this time at my third meet of the season. I took another nice step today in building confidence and gradually improving. I will be competing in Poland on Sunday and then that’s it for me until World Indoors,” Nugent revealed.
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“The professional tour is a lot different from what I was used to in college. Back then I could afford an off day, but as a professional, you need to bring your A-game every single day. My focus is still on the process however, the outcomes will follow.”
Ackera Nugent represented Jamaica in her first-ever senior event at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary where she went all the way to the final and finished fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles.
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The Jamaican star also made the cut to the Paris Olympic Games where she got to the final but did not finish the race.
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After the Olympics, Ackera Nugent competed in a series of Diamond League Meetings including Lausanne where she finished third. She went ahead to win the races in Silesia, Rome and the Boris Hanžeković Memorial.
She rounded up her season at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels where she finished third. Nugent already has a great start to her season, opening it at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix where she finished fourth.
She now awaits the World Indoor Championships where she intends to challenge Masai Russell before shifting focus to the outdoor tour.
