Freshman (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) has transitioned effectively聽into collegiate running for the 91短视频 track & field team. Despite working with some nervousness at her meet last weekend, Nichols聽pushed through that to earn her first Royals Athlete of the Week award early in her 91短视频 career.
At the Finn Pincus Invite, she finished second in the 400m with a time of 1:01.37, third in the ODAC this season. She finished only behind a runner from D-I Wingate in the race. Nichols聽then ran in the non-traditional distance of 600m, winning the race with a time of 1:39.78. She also ranks fourth in the ODAC in the 800m, despite not running in that race this past weekend.
鈥淚 was extremely nervous,鈥� Nichols聽said of last weekend鈥檚 race. 鈥淏ut when I finally got to the line and heard the gun, I was hungry for the win.鈥�
Nichols聽explained that she had not run the 400m since her junior year of high school, but with her college career beginning, she is ready to try new things and take on new challenges for the Royals.
鈥淏oth races felt great,鈥� she explained. 鈥淩unning the 600m was a surprise, but I鈥檓 glad that I decided to do it.鈥�
Being a high school athlete just a year ago, Nichols notices differences in the competitive nature of collegiate track & field.
鈥淗onestly, I did not prepare for how competitive college sports would be,鈥� Nichols聽said. 鈥淚 was expecting wins to come easy but I was wrong.鈥�
With the new platform of competition at Nichols’聽feet, her training sessions have become more in-depth than when she was in high school. With new unique practices and help from her teammates and coaches, Nichols聽has seen improvements that she is happy with and which help build her confidence on the track.
鈥淚 remember thinking 鈥榮eriously, coach, this is pointless,鈥� and next thing I know I鈥檓 PRing by 20 seconds,鈥� Nichols聽said. 鈥淭his team has been eye opening and I can鈥檛 say thank you enough to the program and people that have come into my life because of it.鈥�
Coach Isaac Bryan has been happy with Nichols’聽performance and work ethic.
鈥淗annah has been running very well this past few weeks,鈥� Bryan said.聽鈥淪he’s got a lot of talent, but more importantly she’s a competitor. Hannah works extremely hard and expects a lot out of herself.鈥�
On top of being a prominent middle-distance runner for the track & field team, Nichols聽also spent the offseason improving her stamina by running for the cross country team. She聽is still deciding on her future vocation.
鈥淚 love people and I want to go into a career where I can be surrounded by new ideas and constant change,鈥� said聽Nichols. This weekend, she聽will travel with her Eastern Mennonite teammates to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the UCS Invitational as the men and women gear up for the ODAC Championships on Feb. 26.