Efkamp Ready for Next Step

AMES, Iowa- Iowa State sophomore Nick Efkamp currently holds the nation's second fastest collegiate 400-meter dash time of the 2013 season. At the end of last season, Efkamp wasn't even sure if he would be running 400-meter dashes at all this year. The sprinter, who concentrated on the hurdles last season, made the switch to sprints at the conclusion of last year.

"Coach told me after the season that I have the choice to switch to multi-events, be a hurdler, or switch to straight short sprints," Efkamp said. "I took a few days to think about it and talked to my parents and finally decided that I was going to run short sprints."

It wasn't as if Efkamp didn't have the athleticism to make the switch. The Cyclone was the winner of four events at the Iowa state track meet his senior year at Madrid high school, becoming one of only six athletes to ever accomplish the task in Iowa state high school track and field history.

Iowa State track and field sprinting coach Nate Wiens had to figure out how to use Efkamp in a way that best utilized his abilities.

"Nick is a guy that we originally thought when we recruited him that he would be pretty much a standard 400 meter hurdler," Wiens said. "He ran a 52-second 400-meter hurdle clocked in high school, which is a really aggressive time. We knew coming in that he was very athletic and pretty good. This year we changed our focus a little bit from hurdling to just sprinting. He has adapted very well."

One of the ways to challenge Efkamp in practice was to put him up against another Cyclone sprinter, Ian Warner. Both athletes would benefit from the challenge of practicing against each other daily.

"Ian and I are very good training partners because we push each other so well," Efkamp said. "On days that we work out of the blocks, he's obviously much better than I am so he complements my top speed. On our longer workout day's I complement his endurance. We help each other in that way."

Over Christmas break, when most students go home, Efkamp and his teammates went to work.

"I feel where the short sprints group gained the most strength was over Christmas break," said Efkamp. "We were in the Lied almost every day. We had to get people to unlock the Rec so we could come in and practice by ourselves. That's where we took it to the next level."

Wiens is happy with the way things have come along for Efkamp. He knows that with more hard work he can take his track and field career to another level.

"He is the kind of guy who is only going to get better," Wiens said. "He takes care of his body and stays disciplined. He gets good grades in the classroom. Everything is going in the right direction for Nick."

Before the ISU open Coach Wiens set out of goal for Efkamp. That was to run a 400-meter dash time in under 47 seconds. As of now, only four athletes nationally have been able to accomplish the task this season. That group now includes Efkamp. The Cyclone sprinter ran the 400-meter dash in a time of 46.75, at the ISU Open, good for second best in the nation.

"I surprised myself with my time last week," Efkamp said. "Coach told me that he knew I could do it. I questioned it until it finally happened. It still hasn't really sunk in yet. Now that it actually happened I want to keep improving. My time is second in the nation, but no one wants to be second. I definitely need to keep working harder to try and take that first spot."

Players Mentioned

Nick Efkamp

Nick Efkamp

Ian Warner

Ian Warner

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Iowa State University Athletics