Panther, Olympian, Hall of Famer
8/12/2019 9:00:00 AM | General
When Najuma Fletcher Shields was seven or eight years old, she cried at the Guyana track and field National Championships. She was not crying tears of joy. Fletcher, one of the most decorated athletes in Pitt history, regardless of sport or era, cried because she did not win a medal.
"It was certainly a time when I was really disappointed that I hadn't gotten a medal," Fletcher said. "And from then on it was almost one of the motivating factors to continue to do well in the sport and so the joy of winning and excitement that comes with competing, all those things I really love, that's what sparked it."
That moment was also when Fletcher's coach at the time knew she was going to be the best at the sport. He saw she wanted to win so badly it would be impossible for her to not be the best.
Her coach was right.
While at Pitt from 1992-1996, Fletcher garnered 14 first-team All-America honors and was a six-time Big East champion. In 1995, Fletcher became the first woman in Pitt history to win an individual NCAA track and field title when she won the indoor triple jump. The next year, Fletcher won the NCAA indoor high jump competition. Fletcher was also named the 1996 Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
She also helped lead her team to numerous Big East Conference championships and a trip to Nationals where the team placed third, its highest finish ever. According to Fletcher, those accomplishments are a little sweeter because she was able to accomplish them with her team by her side.
Now, Fletcher is able to add Pitt Hall of Fame member to her long list of accomplishments.
"Not only in competing at Pitt, but in the ties that have continued and in being able to proudly say that I was a student-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh is something that is quite an honor," Fletcher said. "So being inducted is super awesome… I'm just really thankful and feel very blessed to even have had the opportunity."
Fletcher knows all about opportunities, having created many for herself. Prior to coming to Pitt, Fletcher represented her home country of Guyana in the 1992 Olympics, placing fourth in the high jump.
"It certainly was a big moment and an honor to be selected for the team," Fletcher said. "Being selected is special because it isn't a huge team, so just being one of the members and being able to compete for Guyana was really an honor."
Fletcher's accomplishments did not end on the track. In fact, it is not her athletic achievements Fletcher's is most proud of from her time at Pitt, rather it is her academic achievements.
"My biggest accomplishment was definitely graduating with both my graduate and
undergraduate degrees," Fletcher said. "For most student-athletes that is the goal to be able to do that, so I was very pleased and appreciate that I was able to complete both my undergraduate and my graduate degrees at Pitt."
Academics played a large role in Fletcher's choice to come to Pitt. She knew she wanted to go to school to become a mechanical engineer and knew Pitt had a strong engineering program. She would be able to compete in track and field, while studying her area of interest in a strong program, it was a perfect fit.
Which is what makes being inducted into Pitt's Hall of Fame even sweeter for her.
"It's really special," Fletcher said. "I'm truly honored to be inducted, I'm very thankful for the opportunities that being a student-athlete at Pitt provided whether it was athletically or academically as well… It was just a very special time for sure and being inducted in the Hall of Fame just reaffirms just how special it was."
In addition to her successes making her time at Pitt so special, Fletcher also met her future husband, former Pitt track and field standout Brett Shields, while at Pitt.
Shields graduated the year before Fletcher came to Pitt, but he was still around campus quite a bit, working out in the weight room trying to test the waters of a professional track and field career. The news that Fletcher would be inducted into Pitt's Hall of Fame is just as special for him.
"Oh, he was super excited," Fletcher said. "He's the one who's asking me all the details like when are we going, what are we doing, let's make the flights. He has been super happy for me as he always is for me. So I'm very thankful for him and for his support at all times."
The Hall of Fame induction also means a lot to her children and gives her more credibility when it comes to inspiring them. According to Fletcher, her kids do not always believe her when she tells them she was something special. But, when she has things like being inducted into the Hall of Fame to show, it means more.
"We gave [my son] the choice of coming or not coming, and he's like of course I'm coming. So that's been pleasing to see that he is giving it much more credence than staying home and playing on the Xbox," Fletcher said. "But I'm thankful for that and thankful for their love and support in all aspects."
Fletcher will be forever remembered as one of the best athletes in Pitt history and she will always have her accomplishments to prove just how impactful her time at Pitt was. But, she has her hopes for the legacy she left behind.
"Just being determined as a good leader and being determined to do my very best and put my best effort forward at all times," Fletcher said. "Someone of strong character and faith, and being able to lead others in the right way and being a good teammate and just a fun to be around person."
2019 PITT HALL OF FAME
The 2019 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class was unveiled June 13, 2019 by Pitt's Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. The 12-member group is composed of All-Pros, All-Americans and legendary all-time greats.
The 2019 class will receive induction at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Petersen Events Center. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers host UCF. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, contact Executive Director for Signature Events and Donor Experience Allison Rubin by phone (412-648-0345) or email (arubin@athletics.pitt.edu).
For more information of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, visit pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
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"It was certainly a time when I was really disappointed that I hadn't gotten a medal," Fletcher said. "And from then on it was almost one of the motivating factors to continue to do well in the sport and so the joy of winning and excitement that comes with competing, all those things I really love, that's what sparked it."
That moment was also when Fletcher's coach at the time knew she was going to be the best at the sport. He saw she wanted to win so badly it would be impossible for her to not be the best.
Her coach was right.
While at Pitt from 1992-1996, Fletcher garnered 14 first-team All-America honors and was a six-time Big East champion. In 1995, Fletcher became the first woman in Pitt history to win an individual NCAA track and field title when she won the indoor triple jump. The next year, Fletcher won the NCAA indoor high jump competition. Fletcher was also named the 1996 Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
She also helped lead her team to numerous Big East Conference championships and a trip to Nationals where the team placed third, its highest finish ever. According to Fletcher, those accomplishments are a little sweeter because she was able to accomplish them with her team by her side.
Now, Fletcher is able to add Pitt Hall of Fame member to her long list of accomplishments.
"Not only in competing at Pitt, but in the ties that have continued and in being able to proudly say that I was a student-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh is something that is quite an honor," Fletcher said. "So being inducted is super awesome… I'm just really thankful and feel very blessed to even have had the opportunity."
Fletcher knows all about opportunities, having created many for herself. Prior to coming to Pitt, Fletcher represented her home country of Guyana in the 1992 Olympics, placing fourth in the high jump.
"It certainly was a big moment and an honor to be selected for the team," Fletcher said. "Being selected is special because it isn't a huge team, so just being one of the members and being able to compete for Guyana was really an honor."
Fletcher's accomplishments did not end on the track. In fact, it is not her athletic achievements Fletcher's is most proud of from her time at Pitt, rather it is her academic achievements.
"My biggest accomplishment was definitely graduating with both my graduate and
undergraduate degrees," Fletcher said. "For most student-athletes that is the goal to be able to do that, so I was very pleased and appreciate that I was able to complete both my undergraduate and my graduate degrees at Pitt."
Academics played a large role in Fletcher's choice to come to Pitt. She knew she wanted to go to school to become a mechanical engineer and knew Pitt had a strong engineering program. She would be able to compete in track and field, while studying her area of interest in a strong program, it was a perfect fit.
Which is what makes being inducted into Pitt's Hall of Fame even sweeter for her.
"It's really special," Fletcher said. "I'm truly honored to be inducted, I'm very thankful for the opportunities that being a student-athlete at Pitt provided whether it was athletically or academically as well… It was just a very special time for sure and being inducted in the Hall of Fame just reaffirms just how special it was."
In addition to her successes making her time at Pitt so special, Fletcher also met her future husband, former Pitt track and field standout Brett Shields, while at Pitt.
Shields graduated the year before Fletcher came to Pitt, but he was still around campus quite a bit, working out in the weight room trying to test the waters of a professional track and field career. The news that Fletcher would be inducted into Pitt's Hall of Fame is just as special for him.
"Oh, he was super excited," Fletcher said. "He's the one who's asking me all the details like when are we going, what are we doing, let's make the flights. He has been super happy for me as he always is for me. So I'm very thankful for him and for his support at all times."
The Hall of Fame induction also means a lot to her children and gives her more credibility when it comes to inspiring them. According to Fletcher, her kids do not always believe her when she tells them she was something special. But, when she has things like being inducted into the Hall of Fame to show, it means more.
"We gave [my son] the choice of coming or not coming, and he's like of course I'm coming. So that's been pleasing to see that he is giving it much more credence than staying home and playing on the Xbox," Fletcher said. "But I'm thankful for that and thankful for their love and support in all aspects."
Fletcher will be forever remembered as one of the best athletes in Pitt history and she will always have her accomplishments to prove just how impactful her time at Pitt was. But, she has her hopes for the legacy she left behind.
"Just being determined as a good leader and being determined to do my very best and put my best effort forward at all times," Fletcher said. "Someone of strong character and faith, and being able to lead others in the right way and being a good teammate and just a fun to be around person."
2019 PITT HALL OF FAME
The 2019 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class was unveiled June 13, 2019 by Pitt's Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. The 12-member group is composed of All-Pros, All-Americans and legendary all-time greats.
The 2019 class will receive induction at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Petersen Events Center. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers host UCF. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, contact Executive Director for Signature Events and Donor Experience Allison Rubin by phone (412-648-0345) or email (arubin@athletics.pitt.edu).
For more information of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, visit pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
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