Q&A with Kristina Chapman

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Senior Kristina Chapman missed last year’s indoor track and field season due to an injury, but she returned for the outdoor season to help the Cavaliers’ 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams score at the ACC Championships. She was also a member of the Cavaliers’ 4x100m relay team that ran the third-fastest outdoor time in UVa history at ECACs (45.45).

Question: The indoor season starts this weekend. What are you most excited about for this year?
Chapman: I am really excited about how well our team can perform. We have a lot of talent to utilize and I think we will accomplish many things. Plus, traveling and competing is a lot of fun and helps me experience new things.

Question: You’re coming off an injury that held you back last year. What does that mean for you for this year? Are you 100 percent now?
Chapman: I am 100 percent now. I injured my ankle around this time last year from jumping on a mat during a workout. So as long as I steer clear of mats this year, then I should be okay.

Question: Do you have any specific goals for the year?
Chapman: First and foremost, I want to improve my times in every event that I run. Another big goal of mine is to place as an individual at both indoor and outdoor ACCs. I also want to qualify for NCAA Regionals and go as far as possible in the track season.

Question: You also compete in the relays. Is it difficult to compete in both the hurdles and relays in the same day?
Chapman: No. Actually, running more than one event earlier in the day helps me warm up and perform better in the later ones. Plus, I love relays. They have a special place in my heart and I don’t believe my track experience would have been as fulfilling with relays.

Question: If you could master any other event on the track or in the field, what would you want it to be?
Chapman: Realistically, I’d love to master the hurdles. Ideally, I’d love to master pole vault. I’ve wanted to do it since high school. Pole vault looks exciting – throwing your self that high in an air reminds me of a roller coaster. I would love that.

Question: Off the track, have you decided on a major?
Chapman: Biomedical engineering

Question: What made you decide to major in that?
Chapman: I knew I wanted to do something in engineering since I was a sophomore in high school. I really like design and science, so engineering was the path to go. I decided on biomedical engineering my first year because I wanted to work directly with people and help them. I applied to the BME major and was accepted, so here I am.

Question: What do you want to do with it?
Chapman: My goal is to enter the medical device industry and work on innovation and design. I’d love to help people use medical devices.