Euphenie Andre mug

Euphenie Andre

Courtesy of Mizzou Athletics

Throughout her collegiate career at Mizzou, triple jumper Euphenie Andre narrowly missed a national title. 

She was a USTFCCCA first-team All-American in 2021, and she joined the second-team All-American squad the following year. Andre was the runner-up at the NACAC U23 Championships in 2023, and she won a conference title at the 2024 SEC Outdoor Championships. But a national title eluded her. 

That is, until Friday. 

Just a year and change removed from the end of her Mizzou career, Andre secured the national crown at the USATF Outdoor Championships in New York while representing Garden State Track Club. The former KOMU sports anchor and reporter and current KMIZ reporter cleared a personal-best mark of 45 feet, 9 inches to win the title, besting the runner-up by more than 7 inches.

Though there's no global championship to qualify for this summer — no Olympics or World Championships — Andre proved she belongs among the nation's best.

The USATF Outdoor Championships continue Saturday and Sunday, with Mizzou alum Gabi Jacobs and Hickman alum Chandler Gibbens highlighting the final day. 

Jacobs is primed for the women's discus throw at 2:25 p.m., while Gibbens takes off in the men's 5,000-meter run at 4:18 p.m. Gibbens competed in the men's 10,000 on Thursday. He placed fourth, just 11 seconds behind American record-holder Grant Fischer.