Gaining titles is nothing new to senior finance major Timo Kilp. The men’s cross country team is about to begin their new season, in which they will defend the NCAA South Region Championship and Sunshine State Conference Championship they won in 2012, and Kilp is ready to take on the new challenges awaiting him.
Before attending NSU, Kilp lived in Tallinn, Estonia where he played soccer and cross country. Leaving the cold weather behind, he traveled and eventually came to Florida in 2011, where he began his athletic career as a sophomore.
Last year, Kilp became the men’s cross country team’s second leading runner for their first Sunshine State Conference Championship and NCAA South Region Championship. At the SSC, he ran his best 8K with a time of 26:20, the team’s 13th best time in an 8K.
At the NCAA South Region Championship, Kilp ran the program’s seventh best 10K with a time of 32:35.12, finishing at 13th place. He also completed the 10K with a time of 33:03 at the NCAA Division II National Championship.
Kilp’s other accomplishments include becoming an All-Sunshine State Conference honoree. He was also awarded for the Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team, meaning he maintained at least a 3.3 GPA while competing in at least half the team’s meets. These titles and times are Kilp’s warm up for what he wants to accomplish in the 2013 season.
I sat down with Kilp and asked him some questions.
What has been a hardship you had to go through in your sport?
To be focused all the time, all year round. There is no time off, even summers. You have to train yourself.
Who is your motivator?
I would say that, at first, the motivation comes from me, but also the feeling that you can’t let down your teammates. Cross country is an individual, yet team, sport. Everyone counts on you but you count
on everyone.
What has been one of your greatest disappointments?
The times when I haven’t given my maximum, when I know I could’ve given a little bit more.
If you didn’t come to NSU, where would you be?
Probably somewhere in Europe.
What do you think is your best physical feature?
My strong legs.
Why did you decide to come to NSU?
To be an athlete on the cross country team.
Who is your favorite athlete?
I don’t have a favorite one but, if I had to pick, then it would be Lionel Messi.
What do you like the most about cross country?
I like it because it is fun. We run in all kinds of weather and just deal with it. It doesn’t matter if the sun is shining, if it is raining or snowing. Also, no course is the same. We could run in the woods, sand, over the hills, in mud. It never gets boring.
What is your best accomplishment in your career?
Definitely winning the conference and regionals for the first time in school history last year. On top of that, we made it to nationals, which was a great experience.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I like to walk through the finishing area before the race, so I would know when to start my kick in the race. And I re-tie my shoelaces at the line almost every time, even if I did so just five minutes earlier.
What are you looking forward to the most for your senior year?
I hope we can continue the success we had as a team last year. We are working strong to defend our conference and regionals titles and making the nationals. There is no better way to end your collegiate running career than competing against the best runners in the nation.
