By Aaron Hyder
Miami to El Paso. It’s not a path often traveled, but for sophomore Aiyanna Stiverne, it turned out to be an interesting one. She nearly missed out on the trek to El Paso, but the dominoes fell in the right place, at the right time.
Sprint coach Davian Clarke was key in convincing Stiverne to head West. Clarke and Jean Stiverne, Aiyanna’s father, were
acquaintances.
“I actually didn’t find out about El Paso until three weeks before I needed to be there,” Stiverne said. “My dad knew Coach Clarke from the University of Miami. I had recently gotten a release from the previous school I had signed with. It just worked out.”
In her first year competing for the Orange and Blue, Stiverne made an immediate impact. She was the second leg of the 4×400 meter indoor relay team that took first place at the Conference USA Championships with a time of 3:41.80. She also was named NCAA Honorable Mention for her involvement in the 4×100 meter outdoor relay team that ran a 45.03 at the NCAA Championships.
Perhaps her proudest moment during her freshman year came after the collegiate season ended. She was invited to represent the United States in the World Junior Championships held in Eugene, Oregon. This event featured the top track and field athletes under the age of 19 from around the world.
Stiverne was selected as an alternate for the 4×400 meter relay team. Although she did not get to compete in Eugene, it was an experience that she will never forget; it helped fuel her desire for greatness.
“World Juniors helped with my confidence a lot,” Stiverne said. “I did not get to compete on the world stage, which was a little bit disappointing, but it motivated me to work a lot harder.”
The summer ended, and back to El Paso she went, ready to start her second year of college. Stiverne wants to become a forensic pathologist and is a clinical laboratory sciences major.
For some athletes, the move from high school to college academics can be a strenuous task, but her academic transition from Miami to UTEP has been a pretty smooth process, thanks to her mother’s help.
“My mom actually stayed on top of me through high school because she was a teacher,” Stiverne said. “She knew what I needed to do and where I needed to be. I took AP classes, so it’s nothing new, but it is a little bit different because there is nobody forcing me to do my work. It made me more independent. I used to procrastinate a lot, but now, at this point, I have no choice but to do my work.”
Stiverne’s family has played a huge role in her success on and off the track. One of her biggest role models has been her cousin, Bermane Stiverne, who is a professional boxer. Seeing his success firsthand has left an impression on her work ethic.
“He’s come through a lot, and done a lot of things basically from nothing,” Aiyanna Stiverne said. “It kind of makes me feel like we’re all going up together. It is very inspiring, especially when it’s family.”
Whether it has been her mother, father or cousin, Stiverne has been surrounded by successful individuals her whole life who have helped her get to this point. Like any other college student-athlete, Stiverne also has other hobbies that take her mind off things.
“I watch movies, Netflix of course,” Stiverne said. “I draw, and play the piano a little bit, but most of the time I’m on the track.”
With two years of eligibility remaining, Stiverne’s capabilities are unlimited. Her coach, Clarke, has big plans for the sprinter.
“I hope that by her senior year, she’ll be one of the top runners in the NCAA,” Clarke said.
Earlier this spring, Stiverne helped the UTEP women’s track and field team claim its first conference title in program history. The sophomore finished second in the 400-meter dash, sixth in the 200-meter dash and was a member of the first-place 4×400 meter relay team.
A move from Miami to El Paso is a culture shock for anyone, but El Paso has grown on Stiverne.
“It’s a lot different, but I think it’s a good environment for school, especially because you don’t have too many distractions,” Stiverne said. “It’s a really good city and I enjoy it.”