Sometimes, people leave a really great impression that you take with you no matter where you end up in life. When I was in college at NC State, I was friends with a girl named Kelly Brown. She always went out of her way to be nice to me, and even invited me to her wedding a few years ago after we had graduated. Recently, Kelly was recognized by the United States Army as being their female athlete of the year for 2008.
Originally from Hawaii, after graduating from NC State in 2006, Kelly got married and moved back home to Hawaii to start a life with her husband, Chris. Since then, she has been busy raising her daughter and collecting some impressive running accolades, the most recent of which includes finishing the Boston Marathon and beginning training for the 2012 Olympics once she returns from active duty overseas. I think that there is definitely something to be said for Kelly and her accomplishments. To read more about Kelly’s accomplishments as well as to learn a little bit about her, click here. You can also read about her in the August 2009 issue of Runner’s World, which is out today.
Division III athletes love what they are doing and are passionate about it. Division I athletes are pure to an extent, but they are there for the money and the education. The walk-ons and the other divisions run for the love of what they do. -Joan Benoit Samuelson