At the beginning of every race, Esther Conde-Turpin ’26 fixates on the sound of her heart beating. Even as spectators cheer and the crowd goes wild, all she can hear is the thumping in her chest. When her legs kick off as the race commences, sweat drips down her neck, her sneakers pound the track, and she’s fearless, majestic, focused. Her breaths are steady. Breathe in, pace, breathe out. The applause reaches her ears, and when she crosses the finish line, she experiences an indescribable feeling: a tug on her heart, a relentless realization that her body was made to run as she keeps chasing her athletic dreams every time the opportunities present themselves. The vivid feeling of being alive, anticipation for the action ahead, and the hope for what her body can achieve drives her to be present. Conde-Turpin is in her element—free, centered, and energized.
Conde-Turpin’s specialty is the heptathlon, an event comprising 100-meter hurdles, a 200-meter sprint, an 800-meter race, a high jump, a long jump, a shot put throw, and a javelin throw. It is a beast of the track and field world and requires exceptional stamina and physical ability. Last year, Conde-Turpin broke school records in the heptathlon with a performance that ranked third in NCAA Division II history. Her athletic accomplishments speak for themselves:
- 3x French National Champion
- 1x National Indoor Champion
- 2x Outdoor First-Team All-American
- 2x Outdoor Second-Team All-American
- 2x Indoor First-Team All-American
- PacWest 2023 Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
- PacWest 2023 Women’s Track Freshman of the Year
- NCAA DII All-Time No. 2 Indoor Pentathlon
- NCAA DII All-Time No. 2 Outdoor Heptathlon
Conde-Turpin often surprises herself on the track, in the same way that unforeseen moments, both good and bad, have happened in her life.
“You never know what will occur, or who will swoop in and change your life for the better,” she said. “Sometimes I think I’m supposed to go in one direction, and one slight change moves me in a completely different one.”
From moving to a new continent twice to following her dreams as an athlete to playing a pivotal role in her husband’s restaurant, Conde-Turpin dives into life’s surprises and navigates new opportunities with a mindset of curiosity, hope, and optimism.
From Réunion Island, a territory of France off the coast of Madagascar, Conde-Turpin grew up with a spirit of adventure and vibrancy in her backyard. From beaches to mountains to forests, the multicultural community she lived in offered a taste of different cultures and all the joys that come from living life to the fullest. She always loved running. What started out as a hobby turned into a professional endeavor. She won the French Championship for the first time at 16 years old, and she moved to France at 19 to continue her sport professionally, a choice that led to her breaking records and winning multiple national championships.
The track is her place to simply be, to reach her goals, and to find community with those who share a passion for racing. Conde-Turpin met her husband, Guillaume, in France through track and field. He immigrated to the U.S. in June 2022, opening his restaurant, The French Way, which serves French tacos, a dish famously sold throughout Paris but new to Los Angeles. Conde-Turpin joined him in January 2023, hesitant about whether she should continue running track, considering she would need to find a new coach and training facility. Her husband encouraged her to keep chasing what she loves, which led her to Azusa Pacific University.
Conde-Turpin was connected to Jack Hoyt, APU’s track and field head coach, and has experienced growth through his mentorship. Hoyt praised her enthusiasm for showing up for practice every day, ready to go.
“She gives her best, encourages her teammates, and does whatever is asked of her from our staff,” Hoyt said. “The first week I coached her, knowing that she had already been competing at an elite level, I wanted to give her some say in the training. She told me, ‘It’s up to you. You are my coach.’ She’s had full confidence in our process since the beginning, which makes coaching her a joy for me.”
Conde-Turpin expressed gratitude for Hoyt’s trust, support, and encouragement to push her further. Their coach-athlete relationship has cultivated a community of runners whose finish line is more than just the ranking or victory, but the satisfaction of reaching their highest potential.
“My goal is to build up the team, hype them up, and be a mentor for the younger athletes,” she said.
Through her communication management major, Conde-Turpin has encountered various opportunities for sharing her positive demeanor and warm spirit with her peers. And as a student-athlete, she appreciates the flexibility in her studies.
“My experience at APU has been amazing,” she said. “The community is incredibly loving, and I find so much joy being here. It feels like home.”
Conde-Turpin often trains three or more hours a day.
One of her fondest memories so far is representing France and APU at the World Championships in Budapest last summer. The track was bigger than any she’d witnessed before. The crowd’s vibrant energy pulsed through the stadium. Conde-Turpin’s heart raced, a reminder of her body’s strength, her soul’s motivation, and the drive that transcends wherever she goes. She placed 18th, a strong finish, but one that motivates her to continue improving. Conde-Turpin valued the chance to learn about skills she can augment for future competitions.
Track has taught Conde-Turpin a multitude of skills that overlap with other areas of her life. She has learned to approach time management with organization and clear planning, while juggling helping with her husband’s restaurant, practice, and her studies. It hasn’t always been easy, but she and her husband have worked together in every stage of their relationship to support one another. She helps her husband out in any way possible, including social media advertising, bagging food, and working the cash register at The French Way.
Conde-Turpin has gone through life’s hurdles the same way she faces them on the track: with bravery, thoughtfulness, and maximum effort. She’s faced new countries, teams, and responsibilities. It all comes down to chasing the passion in her heart. Every new environment has been worth it, and she’s grateful for the path that led her to where she is now.
“I love track so much, and in many ways track is its own life school,” she said. “When you scratch, you have to get yourself back up again, and you have to support those around you.”
Through every challenge and setback, Conde-Turpin evaluates what she can improve on, asks for help, and puts in the work to grow. When her heart begins to beat faster, she knows she’s in for a good race.