It was the 2024 NCAA West Preliminaries, a step away from the national championship. In her junior year, Lucy Ndungu qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000-meter, with a time of 34:23.39.

In between races, Ndungu, one of Wichita State’s top runners, broke her toe. Her coaches didn’t find out until weeks later. 

“I raced through the pain, trained through the pain,” Ndungu said. “But my goal was to keep pushing myself and see how far I can go. And I did so, made it to nationals with an injury. Not many knew.”

Ndungu didn’t realize the severity of the injury at the time, but did feel the pain. She just “had to hold on,” she said. For her, that meant a runner-up finish at the cross-country conference championship. 

“You don’t do what she did without being a tremendous competitor,” said Kirk Hunter, assistant track and field distance coach. “To even think about qualifying for nationals… most people wouldn’t have even thought about that.”

The injury finally forced her to take a break and focus on recovery. She had to rely on her coaches, doctors and trainers to make sure she was on the right track. Now in her senior year, Ndungu wouldn’t say that period was easy. 

“I had to motivate myself and just keep on holding on to hope, faith, that everything will work out. I’ll come back stronger,” Ndungu said. “That was the goal to take a leave and also be able to come back stronger from where I left off.”

But injury is a part of life, especially for a high-level athlete. Ndungu said she still found positives in her situation.

“I can say I enjoyed it, because that’s how life is,” Ndungu said. “You encounter some circumstances that you have to keep pushing (through) to keep on moving forward.”

While she was recovering, Hunter said she was a cheerleader for women on her team.

“When she was hurt, she was the one cheering them on and giving them advice and trying to help,” Hunter said. “She was there for them. And people don’t always see that side in her. But I do. That is a very important person to have on your team, to have someone that is willing to do that and is there for the rest of the girls.”

Her positive energy transfers to the team. 

“It’s an encouragement to all the athletes when they know that they’ve got upperclassmen leadership, upperclassmen strength in on the team,” Steve Rainbolt, head track and field coach, said. “And she really brings that she’s great. She’s always got a positive attitude.”

A tough competitor

Coach Hunter saw Ndungu’s athletic potential during a recruiting visit to Cloud County Community College in Concordia. But athletic prowess can only get you so far.

Mentality becomes more and more important. At their first individual meeting before she was recruited, Hunter was impressed by her mindset.

“The first day when she came in, her first comment to me was, ‘I’m going to be on the Champions poster.’ ‘I’m going to win conference this year,’” Hunter said. “When someone says that bold of a statement the very first time you talk to them, that’s impressive.”

No matter the year, Ndungu always has the same goal — to push herself as far as she can.

“I don’t have a limit on myself,” Ndungu said. “But my goal is to help our team score, help our team go far and just see what we can all do together.”

Faith is the main driver for Ndungu. When she’s at the line or preparing to compete, she prays and clears her mind.

“If I have anything going on in me, any anxiety, I just, I talk it out to God, and I always remind myself, even if I feel what I’m feeling, I’m still going to run,” she said. “So I’d rather conserve my energy and use that energy on the line.”

Rainbolt said that even though Ndungu may not be “all that much better than” competitors athletically, her mentality sets her miles ahead of the competition.

“She’s a tough competitor,” Rainbolt said. “When Lucy lines up at a conference championship, it’s a great feeling. You feel confident that something good is getting ready to happen.”

Mentality drives you forward, especially during recovery, but an athlete is still limited by their body. Hunter said the real challenge is getting back to full strength.

“Getting back to that point is really difficult, especially when you’re trying to race,” Hunter said. “You’re pushing harder to get better, quicker, and your body just isn’t always ready for it. And with that comes aches and pains, just part of life.”

But there is more to be done. Nearing the transition from indoor to outdoor meets, Ndungu and her coaches are still waiting for what the season holds.

“She’s just not done yet,” Hunter said. “I still see her as an integral part of our program, just like the other athletes on the team.”

Ndungu is set to graduate in May with a bachelor’s in exercise science. After that, she said she hopes to continue her education and get a doctorate in physical therapy.

“I’m grateful to have been given a chance here at Wichita State University,” Ndungu said. “It’s bittersweet to really hear or really see. It’s coming to an end slowly, but we’re not done yet. We’re not done yet. And running will still continue.”