By Eli Meschko
Media & Communications Coordinator
Nearly two years after serving as a reserve for Team Great Britain’s track and field team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Briar Cliff alumnus Ben Jefferies continues to build on a journey that began as a soccer player in Sioux City.
Jefferies recently qualified for the 2026 UK Athletics Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on June 20-21, marking another milestone in a career that has continued to climb since his time at Briar Cliff.
His path to elite track competition has been anything but conventional. After transitioning from soccer at Briar Cliff to sprinting, Jefferies ultimately earned a reserve spot with Team Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Read more about his journey in our previous feature.
For the past year and a half, Jefferies has served as an assistant coach for sprints and jumps at Western Illinois University. Coaching has given him a different perspective on his own training, especially when facing setbacks.
In late 2024/early 2025, Jefferies blew out his Achilles tendon during a training session. Following the injury, he was put on a support system through the UK’s athletics governing body, where some of the coaches connected to Team Great Britain monitored his recovery progress.
He spent much of 2025 recovering and reached a point this year where he could compete again. A major setback like this can make it difficult to find motivation for many athletes. And for Jefferies, it wasn’t any different.
Because he trains independently, the comeback demanded self-discipline. He said there are days when motivation is difficult to find, but coaching at Western Illinois has offered perspective.
“Some of the athletes I coach experience very similar things, but I watch them work through those struggles because they’re trying to reach the level I’m currently at,” Jefferies said. “It reminds me of what got me to this point. When I see how relentless my athletes are in applying themselves to their work, it’s easy to feel motivated.”
That motivation pushed him to return earlier this year, where he ran in meets at the University of Iowa and Indiana State University. His performances at these meets, combined with the continued monitoring from UK coaches during recovery, earned him an invitation to compete at the UK Championships.
He received invitations to run in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. While he chose to focus on the 400-meter, Jefferies said the invitation to compete in both events was an encouraging sign that his recovery and race fitness were progressing.
“When that email comes through with your name on it, inviting you to compete at the National Championships, it’s a feeling that never gets old,” Jefferies said. “It’s always nice to know that somebody’s noticed you.”
For him, being back in this position after a significant injury is a massive accomplishment. The fact that he missed out on last year’s UK Championships makes being able to compete again a huge win. However, he isn’t fully satisfied by just being able to compete again.
He aims to have a good performance to not just keep his name in the running for the Commonwealth and European Championships, but to put his name back in the hat again for the UK team selection for the 2028 Olympics.
Even with his focus shifting toward 2028, his experience in Paris continues to shape how he approaches the sport.
“Two years ago, I was 24 years old in Paris for the Olympics,” Jefferies said. “I’ll be 28 by the time the Los Angeles Olympics come around. The biggest challenge is making sure you’re ready to go at the right time. Not only physically, but mentally, socially, and spiritually as well.”
His time in Paris has a major influence on his mentality. Since he lived in an apartment-style complex with the team, he spent a lot of time picking their brains. Finding out what they eat, their daily habits, and how they approach preparation and training helps him stay grounded in his preparation.
One habit that stayed with him was journaling. While in Paris, he noticed that his teammates, many of whom had been running since they were kids, all put pen to paper and journaled their thoughts and how they felt and accomplished each day.
“Journaling is something I’ve adopted over the past year or so, and it’s helped me greatly,” Jefferies said. “Even though I didn’t have the chance to run in an event, I had so much fun and learned how to be a professional.”
For now, Jefferies is focused on taking things one step at a time, but the possibility of competing for Great Britain in the country he now considers a second home remains a powerful motivator.
“It’s an environment and culture I am somewhat familiar with,” Jefferies said. “It’d be a great trip for my wife and me and would make the trip more attainable. Being able to experience the Olympics only comes around a handful of times in your lifetime. As an athlete, even fewer. To have the chance to be back there and have another shot is everything.”