Keturah Orji facts for kids
American triple jumper
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | March 5, 1996 Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Education | Mount Olive High School (2014) University of Georgia |
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| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Triple jump | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Georgia Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Keturah Orji (born March 5, 1996) is an American track and field athlete specializing in the triple jump. She has set a new US triple jump record twice.
Early life
Born in Hoboken, New Jersey to Nigerian parents, Orji grew up in Mount Olive Township, New Jersey and graduated from Mount Olive High School in 2014.
In 2010, Orji was a level 8 gymnast at Giant Gymnastics, Inc. in Hackettstown, New Jersey. At the 2010 New Jersey state championships, she performed the All-Around (Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor). Orji wanted to become an Olympic gymnast as a youth. Orji credits doing gymnastics when she was young for part of her early success. She won the 2013-2014 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association girls track and field Gatorade Player of the Year awards. Orji defended her New Jersey Meet of Champions Triple jump crown, set a New Jersey state record with a 42-6 1/2 and improved on the Morris County long jump record of 20–2 in 2013. She had a high school personal best triple jump of 44 feet 11 inches She is a 2014 graduate of Mount Olive High School (New Jersey) in Flanders.
NCAA
Orji placed second 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships triple jump and placed 13th in long jump. She won 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships triple jump setting an American junior record and placed 7th in long jump and was named the 2016 Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well as the SEC Field Athlete of the Year. In 2016, Orji placed won 2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships triple jump and placed 4th in long jump and was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year in 2015–2016.
Orji won 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships triple jump and placed 6th in long jump. She won fan vote for 2015-2016 Bowerman Award, The Bowerman award is collegiate track & field's highest individual honor.
In 2017, she won her fifth SEC Title as a champion in the triple jump 14.32 m (46 ft 11.65452756 in) at Vanderbilt University at the 2017 SEC Indoor track and field championships where she set SEC, college, NCAA Division I, and American records surpassing 1996 US Olympian and 10 time USATF national champion Sheila Hudson. Orji also won the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships triple jump title and placed 3rd in long jump. Orji won her sixth SEC Title as a champion in the triple jump 13.95 m (45 ft 9.08759843 in) at University of South Carolina at the 2017 SEC Outdoor track and field championships and placed 5th in long jump 6.44 m (21 ft 1.41830709 in) behind champion Quanesha Burks 6.82 m (22 ft 4.37893701 in).
She won 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships triple jump title and placed 2nd in long jump behind Georgia Lady Bulldogs teammate and champion Kate Hall. Orji was a 2017 Bowerman Award finalist.
Orji won her seventh SEC Title as a champion in the triple jump 14.18 m (46 ft 6.14271654 in) at Texas A&M University at the 2018 SEC Indoor track and field championships and placed 2nd in long jump 6.53 m (21 ft 4.96161418 in) behind champion Kate Hall 6.64 m (21 ft 9.29232284 in).
Orji won 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships triple jump title 14.27 m (46 ft 9.68602363 in) and placed 2nd in long jump 6.52 m (21 ft 4.56791339 in) behind champion Kate Hall 6.73 m (22 ft 0.83562993 in) ahead of Georgia Lady Bulldogs teammate Tara Davis. She won her ninth SEC Title triple jump and long jump championship titles jumping 14.62 m (47 ft 11.46555119 in) and 6.81 m (22 ft 3.98523622 in) respectively earning 20 points for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs in Knoxville, Tennessee where the Tennessee Volunteers hosted the 2018 SEC Outdoor track and field championships. Orji set a collegiate record in the triple jump in Knoxville.
She also won the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships triple jump and long jump championship titles jumping 14.04 m (46 ft 0.63090552 in) and 6.67 m (21 ft 10.47342520 in) respectively earning 20 points for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs in Eugene, Oregon / University of Oregon where the Oregon Ducks hosted the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
In 2018, Orji become first woman to win eight NCAA titles in Field events. Orji was named winner of The Bowerman for the 2018 track & field seasons. She was the first three-time female finalist in award history.
| Representing University of Georgia | ||||||
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| Year | SEC Indoor | NCAA Indoor | SEC Outdoor | NCAA Outdoor | ||
| 2018 | Triple Jump 1st 14.18 m (46 ft 6.14271654 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.27 m (46 ft 9.68602363 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.62 m (47 ft 11.46555119 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.04 m (46 ft 0.63090552 in) |
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| Long Jump 2nd 6.53 m (21 ft 4.96161418 in) |
Long Jump 2nd 6.52 m (21 ft 4.56791339 in) |
Long Jump 1st 6.81 m (22 ft 3.98523622 in) |
Long Jump 1st 6.67 m (21 ft 10.47342520 in) |
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| 2017 | Triple Jump 1st 14.32 m (46 ft 11.65452756 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.11 m (46 ft 3.38681103 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 13.95 m (45 ft 9.08759843 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.29 m (46 ft 10.47342520 in) |
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| Long Jump 3rd 6.72 m (22 ft 0.44192914 in) |
Long Jump 3rd 6.58 m (21 ft 6.93011811 in) |
Long Jump 5th 6.44 m (21 ft 1.41830709 in) |
Long Jump 2nd 6.71 m (22 ft 0.04822835 in) |
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| 2016 | Triple Jump 1st 14.08 m (46 ft 2.20570867 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.12 m (46 ft 3.78051181 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.60 m (47 ft 10.67814961 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.53 m (47 ft 7.92224410 in) |
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| Long Jump 4th 6.51 m (21 ft 4.17421260 in) |
Long Jump 4th 6.48 m (21 ft 2.99311024 in) |
Long Jump 4th 6.48 m (21 ft 2.99311024 in) |
Long Jump 6th 6.29 m (20 ft 7.51279528 in) |
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| 2015 | Triple Jump 1st 13.72 m (45 ft 0.03248032 in) |
Triple Jump 2nd 13.77 m (45 ft 2.00098426 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.13 m (46 ft 4.17421260 in) |
Triple Jump 1st 14.15 m (46 ft 4.96161418 in) |
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| Long Jump 3rd 6.43 m (21 ft 1.02460630 in) |
Long Jump 13th 6.00 m (19 ft 8.09547244 in) |
Long Jump 3rd 6.61 m (21 ft 8.11122048 in) |
Long Jump 7th 6.57 m (21 ft 6.53641733 in) |
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Professional career
Orji set the triple jump American Junior record at 14.15 m (46 ft 4.96161418 in) while winning the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She represented her country at the 2016 World Indoor Championships finishing fourth. She set the American record at 14.53 m (47 ft 7.92224410 in) while winning the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Orji joined Team USA teammate Andrea Geubelle as one of the two meeting 2016 Olympic Standard at 2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) and represented the 
United States at Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics and in the fifth round the pair were joined by Christina Epps who jumped the 2016 Olympic Standard to form a trio for Rio. Orji jumped 14.71 m (48 ft 3.00885827 in) (+0.0 m/s, Rio de Janeiro 2016) Video of record setting jump American Record since broken by Tori Franklin. At the 2016 Olympics, she triple jumped 14.71 m (48 ft 3.00885827 in) American record at Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's triple jump to place fourth.
Orji was recognized as one of three finalists for The Bowerman Award presented by USTFCCCA, the highest collegiate honor in track and field, December 16, 2016, on Friday night in Orlando after being honored by the Southeastern Conference outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Mount Olive Superintendent Larrie Reynolds presented Orji with a plaque on Monday night, at a meeting which also acknowledged all fall athletes in the district. She was also presented with a "key to the city" at a township council workshop meeting on Tuesday night.
Injury forced Orji from competing in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics – Women's triple jump in London Stadium after qualifying at 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where Orji triple jumped 14.26 m (46 ft 9.29232284 in) to win in 95 degree heat at Hornet Stadium (Sacramento). Orji was recognized as one of three finalists for The Bowerman Award presented by USTFCCCA in 2017.
Orji opened her final year by topping her own collegiate, NCAA Division 1 and American Indoor Records in the triple jump in 14.53 m (47 ft 8 in) at the Clemson Invitational on Saturday January 20, 2018. She placed 5th in the triple jump in Birmingham at 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships after she jumped 14.31 m (46 ft 11.26082678 in).
Orji placed 2nd in the triple jump in London at 2018 Athletics World Cup after she jumped 14.60 m (47 ft 10.67814961 in).
Orji won 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where Orji triple jumped 14.59 m (47 ft 10.28444882 in) setting a US Championship triple jump record.
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing the United States |
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| 2013 | World Youth Championships | Donetsk, Ukraine | 2nd | Long jump | 6.39 m (20 ft 11.44980315 in) |
| 3rd | Triple jump | 13.69 m (44 ft 10.85137796 in) | |||
| 2014 | World Junior Championships | Eugene, United States | 9th | Triple jump | 13.29 m (43 ft 7.10334646 in) |
| 2016 | World Indoor Championships | Portland, United States | 4th | Triple jump | 14.14 m (46 ft 4.56791339 in) |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 4th | Triple jump | 14.71 m (48 ft 3.00885827 in) | |
| 2018 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 5th | Triple jump | 14.31 m (46 ft 11.26082678 in) |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 7th | Triple jump | 14.46 m (47 ft 5.16633859 in) |
| Pan American Games | Lima, Peru | 2nd | Long jump | 6.66 m (21 ft 10.07972441 in) | |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 7th | Triple jump | 14.59 m (47 ft 10.28444882 in) |
| 2022 | World Indoor Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 7th | Triple jump | 14.42 m (47 ft 3.59153544 in) |
| World Championships | Eugene, United States | 6th | Triple jump | 14.49 m (47 ft 6.34744095 in) | |
| NACAC Championships | Freeport, Bahamas | 2nd | Triple jump | 14.32 m (46 ft 11.65452756 in) | |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 9th | Triple jump | 14.33 m (47 ft 0.04822835 in) |
| 2024 | World Indoor Championships | Glasgow, United Kingdom | 4th | Triple jump | 14.36 m (47 ft 1.22933071 in) |
| Olympic Games | Paris, France | 9th | Triple jump | 14.05 m (46 ft 1.02460630 in) | |
Personal bests
Outdoor
- Long jump – 6.81 m (22 ft 3.98523622 in) (+1.0 m/s, Knoxville, Tennessee 2018)
- Triple jump – 14.92 m (48 ft 11.27657481 in) (+1 m/s, Chula Vista High Performance 2021) American Outdoor Record
Indoor
- Long jump – 6.72 m (22 ft 0.44192914 in) (Nashville, Tennessee 2017)
- Triple jump – 14.53 m (47 ft 7.92224410 in) (Clemson, South Carolina 2018) former American Indoor Record
