KARACHI, PAKISTAN – On December 11, Noreen Hussain won the gold medal in the pole vault competition at the Pakistani National Games in Karachi, the capital of the Sindh province. Hussain is a former Lane Titans track and field student-athlete and credits the coaching staff for helping her achieve her dreams.
Hussain hails from Flemington, New Jersey, and fell in love with track and field in high school.
"I did almost every event and triple jump was my favorite while pole vault was my least favorite," Hussain said. "I made it my goal to make the University of Oregon track and field team."
Hussain graduated from Hunterdon Central high school and reached out to LCC track and field coaches Dan West and Bill Steyer. West, who is the current LCC pole vault coach, told Hussain there was one spot left on the team's roster.
"There was an open spot as a pole vaulter on the LCC team, so I took the opportunity anyway," she said. Hussain accepted the challenge and began taking pre-law courses at LCC and at the University of Oregon.
Enrolled in 24 credits and taking classes online and in-person, Hussain said the adjustment was demanding.
"I took the bus to practice as I lived on campus at Oregon, and I was managing online classes as well as in-person classes. I was able to make the Dean's list anyways and I was taught that whatever I put my full effort into I will be rewarded," she said.
Hussain credited her LCC teammates and coaches – namely West – for supporting her.
"I learned discipline, perseverance, and the training plan that Dan West has perfected put me in the best shape of my life," she added. "The experience of Lane track & field is one I will never forget with the best people and the most supportive teammates."
She began to see results right away. In May 2023, at the NWAC Southern Region Championships, Hussain achieved her best jump of the season at 3.6 meters (or 11 feet, 9.75 inches). She finished second and earned a spot at the NWAC Championships two weeks later – where she placed second with a jump of 3.5 meters (11 feet, 5.75 inches).
Her second-place finish propelled the Lane women's team to an NWAC Championship. It was a good year to be a Titan in 2023, as the men's team brought home their ninth championship in 11 years (no track and field championships where held in 2020 and 2021).
"We won NWACs – both men and women – my freshman year and our victory lap will be a fond memory of mine forever," Hussain said.
One of the most well-regarded pole vault coaches in the region, West praised Hussain's drive to get better.
"Noreen improved her vaulting both years 2023 and 2024 for us at Lane becoming a two-time NWAC All-American," he said.
The 2024 offseason became one of the most important in her career.
She continued her workouts and began to seek outside opportunities to improve. Hussain recounted her experience attending the 2024 Reno Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada: "It was great fun with my LCC pole vault teammates and on the way back we were stuck in the ice storm and sat in the van for 27 hours together. It was a very fun time and kind of miserable at the same time, but looking back it is hilarious and was great team bonding."
Representing the Lane Titans again at the Southern Region Championships in May 2024, Hussain took home first place with a career-best jump of 3.78 meters (12 feet, 4.75 inches). With that jump, she climbed to sixth on LCC's all-time pole vault list.
Two weeks later at the NWAC Championships, Hussain recorded a jump of 3.73 meters (12 feet, 2.75 inches) to earn a second-place finish.
Hussain's accomplishments and dedication to hard work helped her realize her goal. In the summer of 2024, she signed to compete at the Division I level with the Oregon Ducks track and field team.
Her dreams did not stop there, however. In December, she had the opportunity to travel to Karachi, the capital of the Sindh province along the Arabian coastline. Her chance came when her father contacted the Pakistan Army and shared videos of Noreen and her younger brother, Basim Hussain. Upon seeing the videos, officials for the National Games offered to fly them out.
Despite competing with a pole that was too short, Hussain won gold with a jump of 2.9 meters (9 feet, 6.17 inches).
"I got to become a national champion along with my 14-year-old brother who competed in swimming events," she said. Basim, the youngest male swimmer competing, won three gold medals.
The Pakistani Olympic Committee has entered her name to compete at the Asian Indoor Games in China and represent the Pakistani National Team, but there is still work to be done.
"I really hope to take this opportunity and compete, however, I will not go unless they supply more poles for my safety and to jump properly like I usually can," Hussain said.
Hussain continues to be a strong advocate for equality in women's sports while also pursuing coursework toward her law degree.
"I have come to Pakistan a lot growing up so winning gave me a lot of pride to represent my dad and me in Pakistan," she said. "I was interviewed a few times in Pakistan, and I talked about how I wanted to change the narrative about Pakistan as people in other countries have negative connotations about the country."
The Lane Titans Athletics Department is proud to congratulate Noreen on her accomplishments. Noreen is a great person, great student and great teammate.