Nina Brekelmans

March 6, 1990 – June 3, 2015

Since childhood, Nina focused her athletic endeavors on soccer, while also playing tennis on the side. At Dartmouth College, she opted for a fresh start and walked on to the women’s crew team. After a year and a half of competing, Nina realized that her athletic talents could be better utilized elsewhere. Despite never having trained as a runner, she was able to pull off an impressive showing at an indoor track meet on campus, convincing Dartmouth’s cross country coach that she merited a spot on the team. Nina only regretted not having started running earlier, and was excited to continue to tap into her potential as a post-collegiate athlete. She focused on the 5K and 10K initially, and eventually progressed to longer distances. Nina is pursuing a Master’s in Arab Studies at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service.

On June 3, 2015, Nina was tragically killed in a house fire in Washington, DC. Nina will be remembered for her infectious spirit, dedication to excellence in all aspects of her life, and love of running.

Personal Bests:
Mile – 5:12
3,000 – 9:56
5,000 – 17:57
Half-Marathon – 1:21:45