SOURCE: Ahashie Judeliver Eli
Ghanaian athlete Anchike N-Naawie Lambussie Naawie is rapidly becoming one of the biggest threats in the middle and long-distance competitions in the American college system.
Originating from Kumasi, Ghana and spending her formative years at Kumasi Tech Junction, Anchike has done a wonderful job of transitioning from a record-breaking junior collegiate career to becoming a force at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
Presently majoring in Health and Human Performance, the former students of Islamic Senior High School is busy re-writing program record books while winning a great deal of conferring glory.
Anchike’s latest display of excellence was performed at the conference of Southland Conference (SLC) Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was named the official SLC Women’s Indoor Newcomer of the Year in March 2026.
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She opened the competition by setting an indoor meet record in the mile preliminaries with a time of 4:44.57.
In the subsequent high velocity final, she bested her own program and personal records time clocking 4:40.52 to take a silver medal.
Her versatility was exhibited also in the 800-meter event where she finished with a time of 2:10.71 to take home an additional silver medal that led to a total of three silver medals for the club, allowing UTRGV to take home its first-ever indoor conference title.
Earlier in February 2026, she was nominated the UTRGV Student-Athlete of The Week after she came in at a blistering 2:08.74 in the 800m, which was the fastest time that had been recorded in the Southland Conference at the time.
This feat came on the back of an equally impressive debut in the 2025 Cross Country season in which she also won the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year title.
During that campaign, she earned second team All-Americans standings and she led her team to a 30th place finish at the National Collegiate Association (NCA) South Central Regional.
Her ability to excel in both cross country and track events speaks to the consistency in her collegiate career since she came to the United States.
Before affiliating with UTRGV, Anchike built an outstanding reputation at Cloud County Community College (2023-2025).
During her tenure, she was honored as an NJCAA All-American for two consecutive seasons of cross-country and she broke several school records including the 1,500m in 4:30.90 and the 5,000m.
Her dominance is perhaps most apparent in her victory at Gans Creek Classic 6,000 meter race in 2023 where she won the individual title against a field of 179 competitors.
As a student-athlete who competes under the name of the Ghanaian flag in events sanctioned by World Athletics, Anchike N-Vanee Lambussie Naawie is more than a collegiate star, she is an emerging international prospect.
From the classrooms of Islamic Senior High School, to the national stage in the United States, her journey continues to inspire the next generation of Ghanaian athletes aspiring to make their mark on the world stage.
