Track & Field has become the sport home of some of the greatest athletes and trailblazers such as Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Allyson Felix, Florence Griffth-Joyner, Sanya Richards-Ross, and many more. For Euphenie Andre, Track and Field is her lifeline. Both Euphenie’s mother and brothers were track stars as she described that they would talk about it all the time and it caught her attention to join the family legacy of Track and Field.  When Andre was in middle school, she found her calling in Track; specifically the High Jump and loved it. However, the High jump began to take a toll on Andre as she switched to the Long Jump event. Euphenie admitted that switching from the High Jump event to the Long Jump was the best decision as she loved it. By the end of Andre’s junior year at Dover High school, she tried the Triple Jump event and broke the school record that same season for the Triple Jump. In her senior year of high school, Euphenie competed in the Division II States Tournament with her team and brought home the championship for the Triple Jump event. In her high school career at Dover, Euphenie scored a personal best in two different events with 40’3.75 in the Triple Jump (2019), 17’11.75 in Long Jump (2019), and had the third-best in New York during the 2019 season. Andre would also collect Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year (2019), Triple Jump 2019 league and section championship, and became the first Dover High School Track and Field Champion. 

 Euphenie would begin her collegiate career at the University of Missouri (Mizzou Tigers). In the 2019-20 season, Andre made her collegiate debut in Indoor Track and Field at the Mizzou Holiday Tournament where she placed third in the Triple Jump with a mark of 12.41m. Euphenie’s Indoor Track & Field season would continue to go her way as she placed second in the Triple Jump at the Mizzou Open with a jump of 12.65m, set a personal record in the Triple Jump at the SEC Indoor Championship and the fourth-best mark in program history with a jump of 12.72m (41-8.75), where she placed ninth in the Triple Jump. Andre would participate in many more tournaments over the season as she would finish third in the Triple Jump at the Missouri Intercollegiate (12.36m/40-6.75), fourth in the Triple Jump at the Aggie Invitational (12.55m/41-2.25),  and placed 11th in the Triple Jump at the Tyson Invitational (12.03m/39-5.75). Unfortunately, Euphenie wouldn’t be able to partake in the Outdoor Track & Field events in the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Andre’s first year as a Mizzou Tiger ended with a couple of her season’s best in Indoor Track & Field including an 8.18 in the 60m Dash at the Mizzou Holiday Tournament and a 12.72m (41-8.75) in the Triple Jump at the SEC Championship. Euphenie would enter her sophomore year with more opportunities as she participates in both Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field events. In her official Outdoor Track & Field for the Tigers, Andre participated in the Triple Jump events at War Eagle Invitational 2021, where she placed second in the Triple Jump with a 12.78m (41-11.25), and the SEC Outdoor Championships, where she finished twelfth in the Triple Jump with a 12.57m (41-3). In her second season of Indoor Track & Field, Euphenie competed in five Tournaments for the Triple Jump, which included the Wooo Pig Classic, Arkansas Qualifier, Music City Challenge, SEC Indoor Championships, and the NCAA Indoor Championships. In each of the Indoor Track & Field tournaments, Euphenie made it to the Top Ten for the Triple Jump including placing first at the Wooo Pig Tournament with a 13.18m (43-3), second at the Music City Challenge with a 12.67m (41-7), fourth at the SEC Indoor Championships with a 13.21m (43-4.5), fifth at the Arkansas Qualifier with a 12.81m (42-0.5), and eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a 13.31m (43-8). Andre’s successful sophomore season led her to receive the 2021 First-Team All-American for Indoor Track & Field. Euphenie would enter her third season for Track & Field (both Indoor and Outdoor) with a bang. Andre continued to improve her game as she made it into the top ten standings in three tournaments for the Indoor Track and Field for the Triple Jump events. In the three races for the Triple Jump, Euphenie placed tenth at the SEC Indoor Championship with a 12.69m (41-7.75), sixth at the Tyson Invitational with a 12.99m (42-7.5), and fourth at Razorback Invitational with a 13.04m (42-9.5). For the Outdoor Track and Field for the Triple Jumps, Euphenie was placed fourth at the Texas Relays with 12.82m (72-0.75), seventh at the SEC Outdoor Championships with a 12.89m (42-3.5), and finished twenty-fourth in the long jump with a 5.17 (16-11.5) at the Crimson Tide Invitational. As the upcoming season arrives, Euphenie aims to take over the Track & Field, both indoor and outdoor by storm. Go Big or Go Home!

Andre knows first-hand about the life of being a student-athlete and the work that’s put in daily. While normal students see student-athletes as royalty, they don’t see or understand the extra time, effort, and work in balancing both sports and academics. For Euphenie, she emphasized how balancing both school work and track can be a challenge as she explains how hard last year was for her. “Last year was probably my worst year not academically, but personally and in my sport,” Andre reassures that she will master the upcoming semester and beyond both on and off the field. Currently, Euphenie is pursuing a major in Journalism with an emphasis on Broadcast. Andre sees her journalism major being applied in sports every day as she is a sports anchor for Missouri’s local TV station and expresses how much she loves being a sports anchor. “I love it because I am always up to date on the sports news in our community,” Euphenie exclaims. “Last year, I covered Mizzou’s Cross Country Conference Meet and it was one of my favorite projects.” 

Women’s track and field continues to grow in the number of participants since 2018. Euphenie sees the sport increasing as she explains the excitement to see what the future holds for track and field. “I have been seeing young girls in Europe jumping over 14m like it’s nothing,” Andre emphasizes. “I am excited to see what will happen in the Women’s Triple Jump in the next ten years. I might even be a part of history!” Even though she may not see herself being a professional track athlete or coaching, Euphenie continues to be around sports where she is concentrating on fulfilling her college career while pursuing a career in being a sideline reporter for the NBA as she is sure will venture out to other sports. Euphenie explains that coaches do not get enough credit as the job is demanding. Andre also applauds the coaches that have helped her throughout her career.  “I have been very blessed to have amazing coaches.” 

When it comes to going after your dream, there will be obstacles that will try to stop you from achieving your goals. For Euphenie, she advises future athletes in simple three words: “Go for it!” Euphenie also advises future athletes that they must learn how to face jealousy and hate, in particular when meeting people ``You must learn how to face jealousy and hate; but, most of all, trust yourself and God,” Euphenie explains that she learned to build a relationship God and became consistent with to live out her faith and read the Bible persistently. Andre reminds herself  God is always with her as one of her favorite verses has reassured her to not worry about anything. “Worrying immobilizes, but concern moves you to action,” Matthew 6:25.

There are so many people that have made an impact on Euphenie and she acknowledges every one of them specifically in different aspects of her life. Andre cites her teammates as the inspiration that motivates her to work hard each day on the track. “We got a good crew with a good head on our shoulders,” Euphenie states. “They want to win and break records, which makes me want to do it, too.” Family plays a huge part in Euphenie’s life as she acknowledges them for being great role models in her life. From the support of her mother to the guidance of her brother and the happiness that her father gives in life, Euphenie is inspired by her family as she acknowledges them for being a motivation to her. As a sports broadcaster and journalist, Taylor Rooks has paved the way for so many people in the sports journalism field. For Euphenie, Rooks is someone that she looks up to in the career aspect. “Her (Taylor Rooks) style of work is how I envision myself,” Andre states. “She (Rooks) is amazing!”

Every person has a story that stands out from the rest and that should be heard. Euphenie’s journey defines what the phrase faith over fear stands for. When asked what makes her and her stand out, Andre confidently answers with grace. “I stand out because I am me. As cliché as that might sound, it’s true.” A girl from a small town in New York, Andre details how she has accomplished so many things she could ever dream of. “I have been on this earth for 21 years,” Euphenie exclaims. “For the past four years, I have been surrounded by people who are more successful than me every day and it inspires me.”  Through so many tears, heartbreaks, and adversaries over the past year and a half, Andre continues to preserve and wants to one day inspire girls that anything is possible. “I want to one day inspire girls, who come from the middle of nowhere, to know that they can do anything they want,” Euphenie states. “Because of the diversity, I have matured and realized success takes time.” Life may not be easy, but one thing is for sure, Andre continues to follow God’s plan and as the saying goes: the rest is still unwritten.

To learn more about Euphenie and her story, be sure to follow her on Instagram: euphenieandre.