Pomona-Pitzer Athletics

At Pomona-Pitzer: Entering her third season as a member of the Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country team...As a frosh in 2009, she ran 21:36 in her first collegiate race at the UC Irvine Invite in early September, then ran 21:07 at the UC Riverside Invite...Clocked 30:08 in her first 6000m race in the SCIAC Multi-Duals, and then ran a huge 6k PR of 27:51 at the SCIAC Championships to finish 13th on the team...High School: Attended Sewickley Academy in Sewickley, Pennsylvania (outside of Pittsburgh)...Was a PIAA individual qualifier all four yers, and finished 28th in the state as a senior...Ran a personal-best 5K time of 19:47...Personal...Attending Pomona College, where she majors in biology with a minor in studio art...Has one brother and one sister...Came to Pomona after also considering Tufts and the University of Washington Honors College...Hobbies include ceramics, photography and birdkeeping...Favorite books include Born To Run, Jitterbug Perfume, Leaves Of Grass, and On The Road...Lists sculpture as the most interesting course she has taken while at Pomona...Favorite movie is Fly Away Home...Lists Barefoot Ted as her favorite athlete...Lists John Muir and Simon Leach as the public figures she most admires...Plans to attend veterinary school after graduation to obtain a DVM-PhD...Volunteers for the Pomona College Student Farm Order of the Sagehen...Interned at the Oakland Zoo...Also volunteered at the International Bird Research and Rescue Center...Would recommend Pomona because "it has an excellent community feel and science program. The people are interesting and all-around wonderful."...Regarding her love of running, she says, "I couldn't live without running. End of story."

Nikki "really enjoys the team experience PPXC has to offer. Running with a bunch of crazy runner girls is one of my favorite parts of college."