Jordan Fife grew up in Seymour, Indiana, and, although basketball was his first love, his success at a local summer road race near his grandparents’ home in Flora, Indiana, gave him a clue that distance running might be a better option. Under the coaching of John Chastain at Seymour High School, Jordan earned two trips each to the cross country and track and field state championships, culminating with an All-State finish in cross country his senior year. He felt there was more to learn about the sport and enthusiastically accepted a walk-on position at Indiana State to run for John McNichols.
After a collapsed lung his first semester of college, Jordan battled back and saw progression each and every season thereafter. During his time at Indiana State University, he broke school records in the 1500, mile, 3000 and still holds the steeplechase record. He won five individual Missouri Valley Conference championships, was All-Conference 12 times, won the prestigious Drake Relays twice and earned two All-American certificates in the steeplechase with a ninth place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships.
Jordan’s success at Indiana State opened the door to join Team Indiana Elite, a newly formed post-collegiate training group in Bloomington under the direction of Dr. Robert Chapman. While competing for Team Indiana Elite, Jordan qualified and competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials in the steeplechase. In 2008, he became the fourth individual from Indiana to run sub 4:00 for the mile. He was an eight-time USATF Outdoor Championships qualifier in the steeplechase and a two-time USATF Indoor Championships qualifier in the 1500.