Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157

GRINNELL, Iowa- As the famous NCAA saying goes, “There are over 400,000 student-athletes, and most of us will go pro in something other than sports.” 

Recent Grinnell College graduate Christine Ajinjeru is one of those 400,000, but her journey to becoming a two-time NCAA national qualifier in the 400-meter dash and the recipient of a doctoral fellowship with the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education is truly unique. 

Ajinjeru, a native of Kampala, Uganda, focused her college search on schools in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe and yet landed nearly 8,000 miles from her home in Grinnell, Iowa.   

“I was intrigued by the liberal arts education system,” said Ajinjeru.  “If I would’ve stayed in the United Kingdom, I would’ve went straight from high school into a professional course.  Having the ability to try out different subjects and eventually specialize was more intriguing.”

After attending high school at the United World College of the Atlantic (St. Donat’s Castle, Wales), Ajinjeru arrived at Grinnell with no track and field experience and the intention to become a medical doctor.  Eventually, she decided to major in chemistry after realizing her passion for the environment and discovered other ways to make a difference. 

“It’s a different impact on people, but at the end of the day we want to save the world,” said Ajinjeru. 

As is if saving the world wasn’t enough, she also decided to join the track team after speaking with assistant track and field coach Jennifer Jacobsen at the International Student Orientation.   

“When I first joined the track team my mom asked ‘You run?’ and just blew it off,” she said. 

In just her first year of competition, Ajinjeru earned All-Midwest Conference honors in the indoor sprint medley relay and distance medley relay.  She also set a school record in the 400-meter dash during the outdoor season.  It’s safe to say, “Yes. She runs.” 

“It’s one thing to know how to run or love running, but when you are running the 200 or the 400 and it is very technical,” said Ajinjeru.  “I didn’t have the skills whatsoever.  I didn’t know to get out of blocks or even how to use blocks.  Because the team is small enough, you still get personalized coaching attention, which really helped.  It would’ve been frustrating to have been on a large team and just gotten lost.”

Fast forward to Christine’s senior season and she sits atop the Grinnell record book in seven events. She lowered the school record in the 400-meter dash to 55.49 seconds, and she is also a member of the current record-holding 4x400-meter relay team (3:56.09) in outdoor competition.  Indoors, she holds records for the 60-meter dash (8.22), 200-meter dash (26.65), 400-meter dash (57.49), 4x200-meter relay (1:47.58), 4x400-meter relay (4:03.30), and sprint medley relay (4:11.75). 

Ajinjeru finished 13^th in the 400-meter dash in her first appearance at NCAA Division III Indoor Nationals in March, fulfilling a goal she had since she started running for the Pioneers.

“It was unbelievable,” she said.  “It was my dream coming into my first year.  When we went to Nebraska (Wesleyan University), I pretty much spent the entire time staring and thinking this is so cool.” 

Indoor Nationals was just the beginning of a whirlwind spring break for the senior.  After her 13^th place finish, she flew to Dallas, Texas to present her research about the “Implementation of the Three Oniom Layer” at the 247^th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition.  After spending three days in Dallas, Ajinjeru eventually rejoined her teammates for training in Florida before competing at the Emory Invitational in Atlanta Georgia on March 21-22. 

The Grinnell star finished her storied career with a 16^th place finish at the 2014 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships (56.47) and had a memorable performance in front of her family, who made the long trek to Grinnell for graduation. 

With the Pioneers hosting the Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Ajinjeru family came a week early to see her compete for the first time at her final home meet. Needless to say, they were blown away, much like the competition.     
Ajinjeru turned in a record-breaking performance at the Conference Meet, running a personal-best 55.49 seconds in the 400-meter dash to break the Midwest Conference Championship meet record.  She also teamed up with Rachel Fritts, Eloise Miller, and Sarah Burnell to break the meet record in the 4x400-meter relay (3:56.09). 

In August, Ajinjeru will begin her doctoral fellowship at the Bredesen Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she will study and research for her Ph.D. in energy science and engineering.  The Bredesen Center is named for former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and is a joint program in which her classes will be through the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and her research through Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  Its goal is to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research related to energy.  

The 2013-14 Grinnell College Grace McIlrath-Park Award Winner for outstanding senior female athlete in an individual sport, Ajinjeru wants to eventually move back to Uganda and settle into an administrative role within the energy community. 
After clearing every hurdle in front of her at Grinnell, both academically and athletically, Ajinjeru is taking a well-deserved break from her studies and workouts until she begins in early August. 

“Every single day I was working towards a goal,” said Ajinjeru.  “Grinnell has given me a vast amount of opportunities and I’ve been lucky to take advantage of them.  It’s small enough that your contribution is felt regardless of how small or large it is.  Grinnell is a place you can dream, and if you tell people your dreams, they will try to make them happen for you.”