Enshrined: Tracking the Family Comes First
Nichols (Hemphill) still running, just with a different pace
Mike Brohard
As is the case with a lot of collegiate distance runners, the sport never leaves them. The workouts are no longer for upcoming races, more for a piece of mind and to remain active. Which is very much where Kristen Nichols (Hemphill) is these days.
“Oh definitely. Running is still an important part of my life, but I just run for fun. I’ll run 5Ks for fun, or just run with my kids or for exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle,” Nichols said. “I still love running. I think I’m so busy with my kids and family life, which keeps me busy.”
For the 2024 CSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, most of her running is around due to four children and one more due soon after her name is added to the list of honorees.
The class will be inducted Oct. 11, part of the Ram Good Time Gala and the Ram Good Time Weekend. The Gala, which will also include the Ram Good Time Auction, begins at 5 p.m., with registration currently open for the event. The following day, the inductees will take part in the Ram Legends tailgate with President Amy Parsons and Director of Athletics John Weber before being introduced to the Canvas Stadium crowd as the football team hosts San Jose State (1:30 p.m. kickoff).
Nichols’ induction comes as no surprise. A 2010 All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, she won a trio of Mountain West championships and was twice named an Academic All-American. She was named the 2010 Virginia Frank Award winner, presented annually to the top female athlete at CSU. She graduated as the school record holder in the event.
Her then distance coach, Bryan Berryhill, wasn’t surprised by any of her success considering who she was when she joined the team was just a more polished and driven person when her career finished.
“She came in someone who wasn’t afraid of hard work. As she continued in her career, that became even more apparent and she became more of a leader, someone other athletes looked up to,” said the now Wyoming coach. “She was always ready to race.”
These days, the chase is generally after one of her children. It’s become her favorite pursuit.
Her children range in age from 11 to 5, with she and her husband, Bill, expecting the latest addition to the family in mid-November.
“They bring me energy and excitement. I just love watching them grow up, and we love watching them get interested in all kinds of sports,” she said. “They play soccer and basketball, baseball and hockey. We all stay very active. We love doing outdoor activities together like biking and skiing. They bring us joy every day.
“I really like doing things together as a family. We live in a mountain town, so we go hiking, mountain biking, skiing and camping. We love our outdoor activities.”
One of my daughters last year, when she did the 1-mile, she wanted to wear my CSU singlet, so I let her wear that and she was super-proud. It was fun to see, really neat. Brought back some memories.Kristen Nichols
They were married a year after she graduated, and Hemphill used her degree working as a clinical dietician until their oldest child was born. She decided at the time to pause her career and raise her children, never once regretting the decision.
As they grown older, they’ve started to ask questions about mom and her career, which is always a fond trip down memory lane, even more so at one particular fun run for the kids.
“I think they know, and they’re learning more as they get older. I think they’re excited to try it out if they want to,” she said of running. “They do soccer and basketball, so they’re all good runners in those sports. I think they like to run, and they’ve done a couple of kids fun 1-mile runs. They seem to enjoy that too.
“I think I’d be excited if they run track. One of my daughters last year, when she did the 1-mile, she wanted to wear my CSU singlet, so I let her wear that and she was super-proud. It was fun to see, really neat. Brought back some memories.”
Most of those memories aren’t of the races she won or the accolades they earned. They center around the teammates with whom she won team titles, the way they pushed each other and the bonds they formed.
To this day, she still follows the program and is more than happy to note they’re still winning conference championships more than a decade later.
“It was an incredible experience. I had extremely knowledgeable coaches who were positive role models,” she said. “I think I learned so much from them, and just as a student-athlete, you learn so many important life skills which help you be successful in so many aspects of life. Just being such a part of an amazing team … My teammates were role models for me. The team was a group of instant friends. We spent so much time together training, living together and travel together, and I was able to form special, life-long friendships.
“It was an amazing experience to be part of those teams. It’s been really fun to watch the program since then. They have such strong programs with great, amazing athletes and a strong coaching staff. It’s a solid program that is fun to continue to follow.”
Stories which she hopes to relive when she makes the return back to Fort Collins. Seeing former teammates is what she’s looking forward to, as the reason they can all reunite came out the blue for Nichols.
“I was totally surprised. I didn’t know I had even been nominated, so I was very surprised and super excited,” she said. “No tears. Well, maybe a couple of happy tears.
“I’m really excited to go back. I’m so proud to be a CSU Ram, and so honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with all the amazing athletes who competed there. To be selected as one of the few members is such an incredible honor.”
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