Solomon Kumi went from dribbling and shooting a ball as a freshman to jumping hurdles and horizontal bars as a sophomore.
Kumi started his freshman year at Hunter College in 2022, where he began his journey on the men’s basketball team. Later that year, he joined the men’s outdoor track and field team “for fun.” “I did not have too much intention behind it,” he said. “I know I am athletic, and I had some free time after basketball season ended, so I decided to try it out.” Little did Kumi know how much success he would have with that decision.
Next year, during his sophomore campaign, Kumi decided to step away from basketball and continue to pursue track. In the 2023-2024 season, Kumi chose to join the men’s indoor track and field roster. He would compete in the long, triple, and high jump for Hunter College. That year, Kumi said, “I really started to enjoy competing and found a love for the high jump competition.” Kumi had a good year, but his full potential would be found soon.
Track and field isn’t easy, especially at a commuter school. There is nowhere for the teams to practice on campus, so they often practice at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory in the Bronx or the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. Availability is scarce, so a lot of the time, they can only practice at 7 a.m. “Getting up at five in the morning is probably the worst part of everything. Then, having to travel almost 45 minutes to practice makes it harder,” Kumi said. Waking up early in the morning and leaving the house with crust still in his eyes is all worth it when competing; Kumi emphasized, “The reason is to become the best I can be in the sport and perform during the championship.”
The biggest motivation for Kumi outside of the sport itself was his family. “My mom would see that I would be waking up early, so she would have breakfast prepared for me some days.” Kumi said his little sisters are always the first to congratulate him after he finishes a race or wins an award. The motivation built up and the competitor in Kumi all led to his future success.
The 2024-2025 season came around, and Kumi saw himself on the indoor track and field team. Kumi’s mindset was, “Before competing, I want to dominate everyone I am competing with, but have fun at the same time. I know how much I worked to be where I am, so I show it. Through weekly 5 a.m. alarms, multiple field athlete of the week awards, and off-season practice, Kumi was named the Field Athlete of the Year for the 2024-2025 track and field season.
Kumi’s drive and determination shine bright in many of his teammates. Hamza Elsherbiny, a senior men’s indoor track and field team member, said, “Solomon is the kind of teammate who makes you better just by being around. In practice, he pushes me through friendly competition, always giving his best, which motivates me to match his energy and improve my own game.” Elsherbiny’s most significant focus was Kumi’s work ethic and said that Kumi’s “work ethic is the foundation of his performance.”
Solomon’s work ethic would spread across the team. Elsherbiny said, “Solomon’s drive in practice pushes me to train harder and stay focused, and his support reminds me that we’re all working toward the same goal.” Kumi’s biggest trait was consistency, and Conor Sullivan, a senior member of the men’s indoor track and field team, saw that in Kumi. Sullivan called his work ethic “admirable.”
Kumi’s winning field athlete of the year award did not surprise Sullivan, who said, “The work Solomon put in reflected in his MVP performance this indoor season.” Sullivan talked about Kumi joining the team two years ago and said, “It was a fitting reward for his journey over the past few years.”
Kumi’s unexpected shift from basketball to track and field has defined his athletic career at Hunter College. He took a chance on a sport he had never tried, joining track and field without clear expectations. That decision led to rapid growth, consistent performances, and a Field Athlete of the Year award in his second year.
