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02/20/2024 11:23 AMEnaji Muhammad just naturally loved the ability to leap. So when he saw he could actually put that attribute to an athletic competition, it was a move that was anything but blind, and he has never stopped reaching new heights.
The Branford senior track captain took part in football during his elementary and middle school years. He was then invited to a track practice his freshman year by his teacher, who just happened to be Branford boys’ track Head Coach Rich Biondi. While not competing that season, he more than made up for it by consistently shattering personal high marks as a high jumper and leader for the indoor track squad this winter. He qualified for indoor Nationals in Boston next month, and he claimed a Class M state crown in high jump with a leap of 6’4” before equaling that showing to finish second at the State Open Championship.
“I just have always enjoyed it. I have always been able to jump high, so I thought it was cool you could do that in a sport, plus the team here is so inviting,” says Enaji. “Perseverance has been big for me. Last year, I could not get over six feet. I kept trying last outdoor season and got to 5 feet-10 inches, and then in the last meet of the year, I shattered that with 6 feet-2 inches. I just keep working at things a lot and strengthen my techniques. It truly meant a lot to me winning the title, especially because I was sick. I woke up that morning with a 100-degree fever, but I knew I couldn’t let that stop me. I looked up to Walter Payton, who had the original flu game and broke the single game rushing record back in 1977. I knew I wanted to make him proud, and I think I did by taking the title!”
When it comes to the high jump, Enaji enjoys the gracefulness of the act. He sees it almost as poetry in motion. He does not pigeonhole himself into one sole event, however, with him taking flight and finding the correct timing with the triple.
“The high jump is the most fun, and it honestly hurts my shins the least. It is so much fun to try and get as high as possible, and the technique of it is almost poetic,” Enaji says. “In the triple jump, there are more steps involved, so it is harder to perfect, but it is fun learning what you need to do.”
Now on the other side of breaking that six-foot barrier, Enaji reflects that so many additional barriers and hurdles can be built up in a person’s mind. While he has overcome the biggest limitation of an athlete between the ears, Enaji does not stop there, and keeps pumping iron to strengthen his limbs.
“I’ve always had people by my side encouraging me. A lot of things, especially when it comes to clearing heights, are in your head. I know I can do it and the people around me let me know I can do it,” Enaji says. “My junior year I started lifting in the weight room after practices. I have always been adamant about being in the weight room and just doing reps. I love reps with anything, and getting it all down to a T so I can’t mess it up.”
Last spring, Enaji got to compete on one of the biggest stages in track and field for his age group at the National Championships in Philadelphia for the outdoor track circuit. Of course, incredibly grateful for the opportunity of a year-long objective, he additionally relished in learning from the best of the best.
“Nationals was so much fun and just a really good experience,” says Enaji. “I wanted it last year, and I wanted to jump 6 feet-2 inches, but I got to 6 feet-6 inches and was able to go to Nationals. It was at Franklin Stadium in Philadelphia; it was an amazing place. Being able to compete at something like that shows me I can always set my sights high towards something incredible.”
In a team sport that is so heavily predicated on individual progression towards resounding results, Enaji loves eyeing over each teammates’ solo achievements as a squad steward. He additionally loves the camaraderie formed with his fellow captain cohorts.
“Being a captain is great. I love leading these guys and seeing their improvements,” Enaji says. “I love seeing that progress in each of them. It is a lot of fun working with the other captains, too. I just love being a leader for this team and this program.”
Biondi boasts that Enaji has rightly earned every honor bestowed upon him, along with any future ones to come. He details Enaji never shies away from the elite level of competition, while never being afraid to push his colleagues to new heights.
“Enaji is respectful to his peers and the coaches. At practice, he is always teaching and encouraging his teammates,” says Biondi. “There are so many qualities that make him an elite jumper. Enaji works hard in practice as well as the weight room, and he has become a student of his events. Furthermore, he enjoys competition, and he has demonstrated the ability to elevate his performances at the championship meets. Enaji wants to match up against the best high jumpers in the state. There is no question that he has all the attributes to compete on the collegiate level. I am excited to observe him compete in the regional meets and throughout the spring. He has worked diligently for every accolade that he has earned, and it could not happen to a better kid."
The Hornets’ home has truly fueled Enaji’s maturation as a human over the past four years. He details that he has developed quite a healthy conscience from his predecessors, while being fueled by internal competition, but also compassion and companionship in practices.
“Branford track has really fueled my development as a man. I have looked up to the people and captains before me, and I was able to model what was right and wrong from them,” says Enaji. “Being around this team pushes me as an athlete, and it is such a friendly, but competitive team.”