Fab Five: Adee Newman

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings, and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com. 

Today, Adee Newman, a senior from the track and field team, shares her selections.

This spring, Newman, who transferred to UC San Diego from De Anza College in Cupertino prior to the 2021 season, set personal bests in both the 100 and 400 meter hurdles, with times of 14.94 and 63.98 seconds respectively. She finished on the podium twice in 2022, taking second in the season-opening meet as a member of the Tritons' 4x400 meter relay team and securing a second-place finish in the 400 hurdles at the Vince O'Boyle Classic on April 2, when the Triton women topped the team scoring charts.

Newman, from Palo Alto, will return as a grad student next season, having earned her bachelor's degree in human biology at UC San Diego's Muir College.

1. Go Tritons!

My first Triton Invitational was one to remember, and this photo is my favorite of the whole season. I had always heard so many great things about the Triton Invitational but because of COVID we had not seen the meet in full swing. On the first day of the meet, a new stadium and American record in the Women’s Discus was set by Valerie Allman. What was special about this race was that it was my first time back in the 100m hurdles and my first race without a wrist brace since spraining my wrist earlier in the season. I was out of practice in the hurdles and I tripped really hard during the race but I was still proud of myself for pushing through all the hurdles I had, literally and figuratively. 

2. Smiles All Around

If you know track and field you know that track meets are a very stressful time and it’s rare to see someone smiling this big before a race. The reason I was cheesin’ so hard was because my parents were visiting me that weekend; it was the first time in over two years that they were able to come watch a meet. It was funny because they did not know what our uniforms looked like in person since it was also the first time that they were able to watch me in person as a UC San Diego athlete. I was just so excited that my parents had the opportunity to watch so I had a big smile on my face and two thumbs up, even with my wrist brace and the looming stress of my races. 

3. Determination

This is a snapshot of pure determination. Earlier this meet I had set a personal best in the 100m hurdles, and I was determined to try and set another in the 400m hurdles. It wasn’t a personal best, but it was the third fastest time I had ever run and I was really proud of that. The results you see on the track are the result of the hard work you have put in. The time on the clock is what defines you and for that it is an unforgiving sport. The more determined you are, the more likely you will see the results you are looking for. 

4. Hugs and PRs

My team feels like a family and they are the reason I continue to push myself at practice and in competitions. The shared laughs, sweat, tears, and everything in between make us closer with each passing day. Even though we technically race against each other, my teammates' wins are my wins and they push me to want to be my best. Despite my race result not being what I had hoped, my teammate ran a huge personal record and I was so excited and proud which is what you see in this photo. I believe in my Triton family and they believe in me and that’s what keeps me going.

5. Calm Before the Storm

I love that this photo looks so calm and peaceful. For me it’s the opposite. I am waiting for the official to start me on my journey around the track negotiating 10 hurdles over 400 meters. I’m pretty certain that for as calm as I look on the outside, I’m trying so hard to keep my nerves in check on the inside. Track and field is such a mental sport but it has taught me so much, like perseverance and trust in myself, and brought me my favorite quote. “Life’s challenges wouldn’t be called ‘hurdles’ if there wasn’t a way to get over them”. 

Check back on UCSDTritons.com all summer for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Previous “Fab Five” entries are below.

2022

• Jake Kosakowski (Men's Basketball)
• Rachel Wagner (Women's Tennis)
• Matt Palma (Men's Volleyball)
• Nick Cirrito (Men's Soccer)

2020
• Sergi Mata (Men's Golf)
• Gabe Hadley (Men's Basketball)
• Jonathan Sabouri (Men's Soccer)
• Grace Murphy (Swimming & Diving)
• Collin Shannon (Men's Volleyball)
• Cindy Tran (Women's Volleyball)
• Jake Selstad (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Calder Hilde-Jones (Men's Water Polo)
• Anu Bhadada (Women's Tennis)
• Natalie Widmer (Women's Soccer)
• Konami Masui (Women's Fencing)
• Sarah Proctor (Women's Rowing)
• Neil Tengbumroong (Men's Tennis)
• Cameron Leonard (Baseball)
• Isabel Lavrov (Softball)
• Zeinab Torabi (Women's Track & Field)
 

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.