MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When senior Esther Isa decided to transfer to Middle Tennessee to compete as a high jumper for legendary coach Dean Hayes, it was really for two reasons.
She heard the campus was nice from her sister, Loveth Odia, who competed for the Blue Raiders from 2014-17 as a 400-meter runner, but that wasn't what did it. What really got Isa to Murfreesboro was the chance to win consistently on the biggest collegiate stages and set records.
"[Odia] told me that it was a really good school and that I would love it here … and Coach Hayes contacted me and told me he wanted me at Middle Tennessee," Isa said.