Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame
Alex Samma '10 left his mark as the greatest field event athlete ever to have competed for Connecticut College. In March of 2009, Samma secured the program's first national crown, as he won the triple jump at the NC AA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship with a mark of 15.07 meters (49'5½"). He went on to add two more All-America honors in that event in his career, placing seventh at the 2009 outdoor championship and sixth at the 2010 indoor championship. Samma appeared in a total of five national championship meets, all in the triple jump.
In addition to his national crown, Samma won two New England Division III triple jump titles and one ECAC Division III crown. He also won the NEICAAA triple jump title during the 2009 outdoor season, besting the field of qualifiers from all Division I, II and III programs in New England.
A native of Burkina Faso, Africa, Samma graduated as the program's all-time leading scorer and he set school records in the indoor and outdoor triple jump, the indoor high jump, and the indoor 55 meter dash, and he ran the leadoff leg on the school record setting 4x200 meter relay team. Samma was honored as the program's Rookie of the Year in 2007. He was recognized as a leader by his coaches and peers, and was named as a team captain for both his junior and senior seasons. At the conclusion of his senior campaign, Samma was honored as the program's Most Valuable Performer.
Earning his degree in biochemistry, Samma conducted lab research with the College's award winning faculty member Marc Zimmer. He completed an honors thesis entitled "The Study of Rotational Freedom of the Chromophore of an Infrared Flourescent Protein."
During commencement weekend, Samma was honored with the Anita L. DeFrantz '74 Award. It is given annually to the male and female members of the graduating class whose athletic ability, leadership and sportsmanship best exemplify the qualities of Olympic medalist Anita L. DeFrantz '74.
After graduation, Samma continued to compete in the triple jump while he was employed at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He went on to earn his master's degree in Public Health in Paris, France, before enrolling in medical school in Brussels, Belgium.
