By Kyle LoJacono
Wiregrass Ranch girls distance runner Nikita Shah is continuing to do things never seen before, but her latest effort didn’t involve a clock, championship or course.
The senior will become the first girl from Florida to run for Harvard University’s track and cross country teams. She committed to the Ivy League school Oct. 25, the same day she was accepted academically.
“It’s really exciting, and it’s definitely an honor to be going to such a prestigious school,” Shah said. “I’m really excited to be part of Harvard’s very well-respected team. … Harvard is arguably the top university in the world, so it’s really special.”
Shah finished fourth at the Class 3A state cross country meet last year and set her personal record of 17 minutes 48 seconds on a 5-kilometer course this season. She was also third in the 3,200-meter at the 3A track final as a junior.
“I contacted the Harvard coach, and they didn’t have Nikita on their radar,” said Bulls coach Don Howard. “As soon as they realized what she had done, they called me back and that’s when I got excited for Nikita. She told me when she was a freshman that she wanted to go there.”
Her ability wasn’t questioned by Harvard coaches, but the university makes potential student-athletes go through the regular admissions process.
Not that Shah’s intelligence was in question either.
Shah, who plans to pursue a premed degree, has a 4.65 weighted grade point average, which puts her on pace to finish in a three-way tie as Wiregrass Ranch’s valedictorian with cross country teammates Emily Payne and Hannah Eder.
Shah said she is ready for the rigors of life at Harvard.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Shah said. “I know it’s going to be a step up from what I’ve been doing here. The classes will be hard and the practice schedule will be difficult, but I know that I will be able to make the transition.”
Howard said Shah has plenty of motivation to stay on top of her grades and training.
“I don’t know how many people know this, but she has a dream of running for India’s Olympic team,” Howard said. “I told the Harvard coach that would keep her focused. … They’re getting a girl who is going to benefit them greatly in cross country and track and somebody who is going to do well academically.”
Howard said college plans appeared to be weighing on Shah, and even thought an illness she recently got over was linked to being anxious about being accepted at Harvard. He said she appears to be running easier now that her college plans are set.
“She just looks so much more relaxed, and it’s going to be beneficial to her,” Howard said. “I think she’s going to attack these next few weeks and go into the state met with a goal of winning a state title. … She just runs at a pace that I’ve never seen a girl run before. That’s why she runs in the 17s when almost no girl does.”
Shah committed just five days after capturing her first individual Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) cross country championship. She said she is excited for her last three weeks of her senior season.
“I’m really ready,” Shah said. “I’m going to do everything I can to win a state championship.”
Shah and the Bulls will run in the Class 3A-District 6 meet Nov. 2 at Crews Lake Park at 4 p.m.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
