Student Athlete of the Week Kimora Northrup

Short-distance standout Kimora Northrup is still hunting for some more hardware in the final stage of her accomplished Niwot High School track and field career.

Already an individual Class 4A state champion in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdles, the senior has her eyes set on winning gold again in both events to further cement an already strong Niwot legacy.

Northrup, however, has been dealt some adversity early this season with knee problems limiting her to competing only in sprint relays in March. But racing on her home track at the NoCo Series #1 Invitational on April 1, she made her individual event debut in the 100m hurdles.

It went well, to say the least, as she cruised to a first-place time of 14.84 seconds.

"The goal was just to be aggressive today, get out and have fun," Northrup said. "I'm super happy with my time. That's only like .2 (seconds) slower than I ran last year and it's just my opener and I haven't been practicing, I've only practiced hurdles a few times in the past two months, so I'm just super happy with it."

Later in the 31-team meet, Northrup won the 300m hurdles (46.24 seconds) and helped Niwot take first in the 4x400m relay. She added that running on her home track in front of a packed crowd was a special experience.

"It doesn't even feel like it's Niwot to me," Northrup said. "I was walking around and I'm like, 'This doesn't feel like my school.' It looks so different, like all the tents being set up and just so many people. This isn't a big school to start with anyway, so I never see this many people here."

Northrup will likely be racing in front of even bigger crowds next year when she begins her freshman season at Texas Christian University.

"I'm just so excited," said Northrup, who was recruited for the 400m hurdles. "I've always wanted to go to school in Texas, and it still feels unreal. I've been doing things for my dorm recently and orientation."

Her feet will remain in Niwot for a couple of more months, though, and she hopes to finish her Cougar career without regret.

"I'm trying to be grateful and put everything I got into everyone," Northrup said. "I don't have a lot of opportunities left, but I give everything I got every time."