Triple Knot

17. Nia Akins’ Sky is the Limit

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In this episode...

  • Who is Nia Akins?
  • Switching from soccer to running
  • Mom’s influence and 400m success at the University of Missouri
  • Draw to UPenn for nursing and people
  • Memories from last collegiate meet
  • HS experiences and goals leading into college
  • Transitioning from west to east coast
  • Turning point in realizing national caliper potential
  • Mindset for performing best at biggest meets
  • Building confidence in fitness through racing
  • XC as an 800m/mid-distance runner
  • The whole new experience of having the opportunities to race at the highest levels
  • Experience running at USAs
  • Geeking out over pro runners and finding focus in that atmosphere
  • Surreal racing experiences
  • Travel experiences: Chile study abroad winter break trip and Cornell-Penn UK summer trip
  • Looking back at COVID-19 and college running career
  • Future goals
  • Looking towards Olympics, consistency and mindset change 
  • Messages to younger & future selves and younger college runners


    • Some of Nia’s accomplishments

    • 2020 University of Pennsylvania Nursing and nutritional science major
    • Ran second fastest 800m time in NCAA history (2:00.71) at the 2020 BU Valentine Invite
    • 2019 NCAA D1 Indoor and Outdoor Nationals Runner-up in 800m
    • Seventh-place finisher at USATF Outdoor Championships
    • 8 UPenn School records
    • Roster: https://pennathletics.com/sports/womens-track-and-field/roster/nia-akins/15790


      • More Nia Media to check out:

      • Runner’s World article by Nia: “I’m an All-American Runner and Ivy League Grad. I Still Can’t Escape Racism.” https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a32825698/nia-akins-ncaa-runner-racial-discrimination/
      • Women’s Running: NCAA Star Nia Akins Plots Her Professional Future—in Seattle: https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/news/nia-akins-signs-with-brooks-beasts/
      • Dyestat QUARANTINE CONVERSATIONS - EP86 - NIA AKINS: https://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=videos&video_id=298775
      • LetsRun Podcast: 800m Star and New Brooks Beast Nia Akins + Christian Coleman Gets Strike Three? https://www.letsrun.com/news/2020/06/coleman-nia-akins/


        • ***Donate to the National Queer and Trans Therapist of Color Network’s (NQTTCN) Mental Health Fund: https://linktr.ee/nqttcn ***

        • Awesome podcast episode about NQTTCN: https://lacura.podbean.com/?fbclid=IwAR2FOvBPqZJ-CMJQYOjRsyg7Z9mU38Mxwvi4OZZ9ONqZVgZGPbPXr4w-aBQ
        • Insta: https://www.instagram.com/nqttcn/?hl=en
        • For June 2020, contact me w/ confirmation of your donation (feel free to cover any personal info, donation amount, etc) and I pledge to contribute $5 for every new donation that a listener of this podcast makes to NQTTCN for up tp $100 of my own money total. Thank you :)
        • Insta: @markoshaley
        • Email: [email protected]


          • Justice for the Black and Trans communities: 

          • Petitions: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#petitions
          • https://www.change.org/p/black-lives-matter-actvists-justice-for-nina-pop
          • Justice in June educational resource: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Vxs6jEUByXylMS2BjGH1kQ7mEuZnHpPSs1Bpaqmw0/edit
          • Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2020: https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-trans-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2020?fbclid=IwAR2AAZmmFTAlSGlAUVJndMrLdeqqJ498Nnj93UwKgwQLv9z1VBCwo6iFKO4
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            Triple KnotBy Haley Markos
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