From March 6 to 9, 2025, the European Indoor Athletics Championships will take place in Omnisport Apeldoorn. During this event, the best European athletes will compete for the coveted indoor titles. With the motto “Moving People,” the organization aims to inspire people of all ages and get them moving. It promises to be a spectacular event, with a record 46 Dutch athletes participating.
The 2025 European Indoor Athletics Championship is a stage where the best European athletes compete, and for many talents, college track and field is a perfect stepping stone to this level. In the US, the NCAA system offers a combination of top training, strong competition and excellent facilities, allowing athletes to take their physical and mental performance to the next level. Athletes such as Eugene Omalla (Kansas State University), Suus Altorf (Florida University) and Jorinde van Klinken (Arizona State University) are examples of Dutch talents who have developed through the American college circuit.
The American adventure began in 2019 for Eugene Omalla and his brother Jaimie. They left Uganda for Mckendree University, a private university in Lebanon, Illinois. Here Eugene placed second at the NCAA Division II Championships. After 2 years, the brothers left for Southeast Louisiana, where he again claimed a second place at the Southland Conference Championships. Again, the Omalla brothers left after 2 years and continued their careers at Kansas State University (KSU). Here Eugene Omalla set many different records. He is also the first K-State sprinter to compete in the 400-meter dash in the NCAA Indoor Championships since 1997. In an interview with D. Scott Fritchen of K-State sports, he says the following: “I have a great coach and support staff. I do the work, but they are the ones who have prepared me for success, so I am very grateful for that.”
Suus Altorf has been active in America since 2023. She is currently studying and playing sports at Florida State University (FSU). During this time, Suus has significantly improved her personal records. In an interview with overboarder.com, Suus indicates that the sports world in America looks very different compared to the Netherlands and Belgium: “A huge amount of time and money is invested. Take athletics as an example; it’s not even the biggest sport here, but at FSU we still have our own athletics track, a dedicated gym, specialized coaches for every discipline and always available physical therapists.”
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Utrecht University, Jorinde van Klinken decided to pursue her master’s degree in Global Management at Arizona State University (ASU) in the United States. During her time at ASU, she represented the Sun Devils in both discus throwing and shot put. In May 2021, during the USA Track Throws Festival, Jorinde threw the discus to a distance of 70.22 meters, which was not only a personal record, but also a new Dutch record and the best world performance since 2018. In 2022, she continued her success by winning the bronze medal in the shot put at the European Championships in Munich.
After her time at ASU, Jorinde continued her academic and athletic career at the University of Oregon, where she earned an accelerated MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. During her time there, she earned 18 points at the NCAA Championships, including a second-place finish in the shot put. Two weeks earlier, during the NCAA West Preliminary, she threw 19.02 meters, setting the sixth-best outdoor performance in university history. Jorinde van Klinken continues to develop as one of the world’s leading athletes in both the shot put and discus throw, with an impressive track record in both national and international competitions
Their experiences in the NCAA have helped them become stronger, faster, and compete themselves with the world’s best. By training at a high level and competing regularly, athletes develop the discipline, strength and experience needed to shine on an international stage. College track and field can be an ideal springboard to events such as the European Athletics Championships and even the Olympics.
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