In The 'Cac Sports Williams

Williams Alumna Sets Record for 273-Mile Vermont Trail

From Never Stop Exploring

Williams grad Nikki Kimball ’93 recently completed the famous 273-mile “Long Trail” in Vermont in a total of 5 days 7 hours and 42 minutes, setting the women’s speed record and placing her in the top 5 speed records of all time.

Let’s just conceptualize this for a second. That means she completed an average of about 28 miles a day of running through mountainous, “rugged” and “steep” terrain. Mind blown.

Kimball is already a decorated athlete with three North American Ultra Runner of the Year Awards, and a 2007 Ultra-Trail Du Mount Blanc win under her belt, among others. This achievement far exceeds past women’s records.

This trail was particularly special to Kimball as a Vermont native, but her intentions for completing it were charitable.

“The overall experience was amazing, and I learned so much about myself, the trail and my crew,” said Kimball. “But the bigger goal for me was to inspire women and girls of all ages, and to show that there’s an equal place for women in professional sports. I hope I did a little bit of that today.”

Kimball raised money while on the trail for the non-profit Girls on the Run Vermont, which “teaches girls 8-15 life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running exercises in preparation for a 5K run.”

We can even watch our studly Williams grad in the PBS documentary “Long Trail,” scheduled to premiere in 2013.

Congrats to Nikki Kimball, making the ‘Cac as proud as ever!