RIO GRANDE VALLEY – When Efe Latham signed up for her first track & field meet in Canada during Grade 11, she wasn't looking for a win, just an excuse to miss class. She stepped onto the field with no prior experience and no expectations, but she placed first over athletes who had been training for years. 
 
Her win in shot put earned Latham a spot at provincials, where she placed fourth. That performance resulted in her being recruited to a track club by another thrower who was competing. After hesitation, she joined the club to get proper training and more opportunities to compete. She decided to put basketball aside and take throwing more seriously.  
 
Latham didn't expect how much of an impact that decision and throwing would have on her life. 
 
Following Latham's first year of making throwing her main focus, she earned the opportunity to represent her province of Quebec at the Canada Games for the first time. With Team Quebec she placed11th at junior nationals, narrowly missing out on the finals. But she realized how much better she could be with even more dedication to the sport. 
 
"I think the moment where I knew I was going to be good at throwing was when in my first year of taking it seriously, I was beating other girls that had been doing it for way longer than me," Latham said. "I was like, yeah, this is what I need to be doing." 
 
Latham's approach to her craft has evolved since her first track meet. A typical training day starts with sprinting to work on explosiveness. She opens practice slowly, allowing her body to warm up and find the rhythm in her technique, and builds intensity throughout. She works on half throws, which are a fundamental technique that bridges the gap between stand throws and full spins by training her lower body to start the throw while maintaining proper separation. 
 
Another important part of her preparation is her mental approach. Latham emphasizes she has to be mentally fierce as she gets ready to compete. She prepares her mind for practice and before competitions by meditating and visualizing success for herself before she even picks up her instrument. 
 
At times, she battled through injuries and doubts about herself. But her strong will and mentality were important aspects of helping her overcome it.  
 
"The biggest part of being injured and trying to come back from it is you start to wonder, 'am I healed?'" Latham said. "I just tell myself that I can overcome injuries and I can keep pushing and get back to where I was and better." 
 
Doubt and fear used to follow her to meets as she competed with throwers that were bigger than her. Once she put her trust in her training and abilities, all those doubts went away as she performed and showed she belonged. 


 
In 2025, Latham qualified for the NCAA West First Round in shot put with UTRGV, finishing 36^th with a mark of 14.84 meters. She earned All-Conference Second Team honors in shot put at the 2025 Southland Conference (SLC) Outdoor Championships, finishing as the runner-up with a personal best mark of 15.36 meters. Earlier this spring, Latham helped UTRGV win its first-ever SLC Indoor Championship – and the first indoor conference title in program history – as she scored in both weight throw and shot put at the 2026 indoor conference meet. 
 
She has not only competed for UTRGV, but has built a community in the Rio Grande Valley.  
 
Before UTRGV, Latham started her collegiate career at Barton Community College, where she was a two-time qualifier for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Her success didn't stop there as she earned four top five finishes at indoor and outdoor Region VI championships. 
 
What Latham valued most about Barton, however, were the relationships she built during her time there. She still visits and remains close to her former teammates, even attending their graduations. 
 
After her two years at the JUCO level, Latham was ready to make the jump to Division I and went to compete at Liberty University in 2024. She had success at Liberty recording collegiate bests in weight throw, hammer, shot put, and javelin. But something was missing.  
 
Latham felt alone. She missed the feeling of family and community that she had at Barton. She went to therapy to work on herself and her confidence, but ultimately, she decided that it was time to move on from Liberty.  
 
When Latham entered the transfer portal, she wanted to find a place that felt like home again. She wanted to find that feeling of care and community since she was far away from her home in Canada. She found that at UTRGV. 
 
Her teammates, from throwers to sprinters and jumpers, have all helped Latham find a home away from home. She has built connections through clubs like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where she gets to enjoy her Sundays talking about her faith with her friends. 
 
"I don't have family here, but you find people that can become family. I've kind of built that here," Latham said. "You find community, so that's always been nice." 
 
Leaving Canada has always been one of Latham's biggest sacrifices, so it was a full circle moment when she placed first in shot put at the 2025 Canada Summer Games as she represented Team Quebec once again.  
 
Even though she has spent her collegiate career in the United States, Latham still makes time for those in Canada who have supported her throughout her entire journey. She makes it a priority to go back home every summer to see her family and friends, who still push and motivate her.  
 
Although it was an honor to represent Quebec, Latham's ultimate goal is to represent Canada as a whole. The love she has for her country and those who raised her pushes her to work tirelessly each day to get better as she eyes the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Latham has spent time training with fellow Canadian shot put athlete Sarah Mitton, a two-time Olympian and two-time World Indoor champion, when she's out of her collegiate season.  


 
For now, Latham hopes to leave a legacy at UTRGV. She heads to the SLC Outdoor Championships this week chasing the UTRGV school record for shot put. She is also aiming for a return trip to the NCAA West First Round, where she can try to punch her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Along with her measured performances, Latham hopes to be remembered as someone who worked hard not just for herself, but for those around her.  
 
"When I'm here, I try to help everybody," Latham said. "I know what it feels like to think you don't have somebody, but I always want to be that person that someone can count on." 
 
The journey that started as an excuse to miss class has now led Latham to being one of the top throwers in the nation and someone with the potential to represent Canada on the biggest stage. She has put in countless hours of training and developed a genuine dedication to her craft, while still striving to help others along the way, too. 

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