With the start of cross-country season just two weeks away, training is intense for Howard University sophomore Ester Kirk. Her last year’s cross-country season was cut short by injury, so she’s excited to run with her teammates and aim for a conference championship. Kirk also runs indoor and outdoor track, but said there is something special about running in a scenic setting.
“I like running with my teammates,” Kirk said. “Cross-country is a very team-oriented sport sometimes because you need everyone to run a successful meet in order to win the meet or advance. Track feels a little bit more individual at times.”
For track, she runs the mile and the 800 meters, so cross-country pushes her, which she likes. With the coach’s approval, she may take on the 3K in track this season.
Kirk trained hard this summer while home in Morristown, N.J. She appreciates the strict regimen of collegiate athletics and applied that mindset over the summer. “Lifting has definitely helped me become stronger,” she said. “I’m able to run more mileage. This summer, I was able to see a big improvement.”
Pursuing a degree in environmental science after being inspired by an AP course on the subject in high school, Kirk isn’t sure what path her career will take. “I have worked at this urban farm as an intern for two years, and I do the conservation aspect,” she said. “I am also looking into law.”
After cross-country season, Kirk will head into indoor track to be followed by outdoor track, which means she will be competing throughout the school year. She said she became accustomed to the packed schedule in high school. Obviously, college is even more demanding due to increased practice time, but time management helps her get it all done.
Kirk fell in love with Howard, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., upon her first visit. Being on campus during former Vice President Kamala Harris’s (a Howard alumna) historic presidential campaign was inspiring.
“I’m very grateful to be at Howard; I love the atmosphere,” she said. “Last year was a really cool experience to be here … Being a freshman, to be on campus when [Kamala Harris] was here for her campaign, election night and the day after, was a fascinating scene.”