University of Richmond Athletics
Kirsten Nieuwendam Joins Track & Field Staff
09/14/2022 | Women's Track & Field
Richmond, Va.— University of Richmond Director of Track and Field, Lori Taylor has announced that Kirsten Nieuwendam will join the Spiders coaching staff as an assistant focusing on the sprints, hurdles, jumps and multis.
"We're thrilled to have Coach Nieuwendam join our staff," said Taylor. "When researching the best sprint, hurdle and jump coaches, it did not take long for her name to be brought to my attention. She has built a strong profile, not only as an athlete but now as a coach."
"From our first conversation, I was struck with her contagious energy, her passion for the sport, and her intense competitive spirit. She shares the bold vision our staff has for our program, and I look forward to her guiding our student-athletes to add to the proud tradition that is Richmond cross country and track and field. This program has an extraordinary history and finding a coach with commensurate credentials was our priority, and Kirsten Nieuwendam is that coach," added Taylor.
"Richmond cross country and track and field has been all about success. Kirsten knows what that takes and is poised to restore our sprints, hurdles and jumps areas to consistent, elite-level achievement. Fitting for a two-time Olympian, Kirsten has a unique personal journey marked by adversity, accountability and inspiring drive. Her experience and background resonate with young people, and we expect the results will show."
"First and foremost, I would like to thank coach Lori Taylor for this opportunity", said Nieuwendam. "I am very excited to work with both coach Taylor's and their coaching staff. I want to come in and help add to the great tradition and continue to grow the Track &Field program into championship caliber team. More importantly I am excited to work with their talented group of student-athletes and develop them in any form and fashion on and off the field."
Most recently, in one season at Upper Iowa, Nieuwendam coached seven student-athletes to program records and five student-athletes to the indoor and outdoor Northern Sun Conference finals in the 400m, 4x100m, triple-jump and decathlon. Along with an immediate performance impact, Nieuwendam's recruiting was distinctive as she received commitments from several top tier athletes.
Prior to Upper Iowa, she served as a graduate assistant at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla. where she worked directly with the women's sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays. She also served as the recruiting coordinator for men's and women's cross country, and their women's sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws and combined events.
Nieuwendam was a volunteer coach with the Texas Tech University track and field team for three years from 2017-20. During her time in Lubbock she directly assisted coaching the NCAA outdoor track and field national champion in the 100m, 200m, and indoor 200m, seventh place finisher in the 200m, third place 4x100m relay team and runner-up finisher in the 400m hurdles. Additionally, she assisted the sprint and hurdles staff as they won the school's first ever NCAA Men's Track & Field Team Title. During her stretch the Red Raiders won team titles at the 2018 Big 12 Men's Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and 2019 Big 12 Men's Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Additionally, she played a role in the recruiting and meet day operations.
After completing her undergraduate degree at Central Florida, she joined their staff in 2016-17 as an assistant coach helping with the women's sprints, hurdles and relays where they won the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship in Women's Indoor Track & Field. Along with her coaching duties she was instrumental in recruiting and home event logistics.
Nieuwendam's accomplished athletics career includes participation in two Olympic Games. She competed in the 200M at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games while representing Suriname, a country on the northeastern coast of South America. In addition to her Olympic experience, Nieuwendam also represented the country in several international events including the World Championships, Pan American Games, Carifta Games and World Junior Championships.
As an undergraduate student Nieuwendam ran for Penn State in 2012 as a freshman and claimed a pair of medals at both the Big 10 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. On the outdoor track, she earned a bronze in the 200m and a silver as part of the 4x400m relay team. During the indoor championship, she earned silver medals in the 400m race and the 4x400m relay.
She closed out her collegiate career at Central Florida claiming three more medals during the American Athletic Conference's Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She claimed a gold medal in both the indoor 4x400m relay and the outdoor 4x100m relay and a silver medal in the outdoor 4x400m relay.
She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies at Central Florida and went on to earn a pair of Master's degrees in business administration and sport business management from the University of Central Florida and an additional Master's degree from Texas Tech University in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The accomplished sprinter also coached at a pair of high schools in Florida before moving to the collegiate level at UCF.
Nieuwendam holds two USATF coaching certifications including a Level 1 and Level 2 for coaching sprints, hurdles and relays.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AS AN ATHLETE
Representing Suriname
"We're thrilled to have Coach Nieuwendam join our staff," said Taylor. "When researching the best sprint, hurdle and jump coaches, it did not take long for her name to be brought to my attention. She has built a strong profile, not only as an athlete but now as a coach."
"From our first conversation, I was struck with her contagious energy, her passion for the sport, and her intense competitive spirit. She shares the bold vision our staff has for our program, and I look forward to her guiding our student-athletes to add to the proud tradition that is Richmond cross country and track and field. This program has an extraordinary history and finding a coach with commensurate credentials was our priority, and Kirsten Nieuwendam is that coach," added Taylor.
"Richmond cross country and track and field has been all about success. Kirsten knows what that takes and is poised to restore our sprints, hurdles and jumps areas to consistent, elite-level achievement. Fitting for a two-time Olympian, Kirsten has a unique personal journey marked by adversity, accountability and inspiring drive. Her experience and background resonate with young people, and we expect the results will show."
"First and foremost, I would like to thank coach Lori Taylor for this opportunity", said Nieuwendam. "I am very excited to work with both coach Taylor's and their coaching staff. I want to come in and help add to the great tradition and continue to grow the Track &Field program into championship caliber team. More importantly I am excited to work with their talented group of student-athletes and develop them in any form and fashion on and off the field."
Most recently, in one season at Upper Iowa, Nieuwendam coached seven student-athletes to program records and five student-athletes to the indoor and outdoor Northern Sun Conference finals in the 400m, 4x100m, triple-jump and decathlon. Along with an immediate performance impact, Nieuwendam's recruiting was distinctive as she received commitments from several top tier athletes.
Prior to Upper Iowa, she served as a graduate assistant at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla. where she worked directly with the women's sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays. She also served as the recruiting coordinator for men's and women's cross country, and their women's sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws and combined events.
Nieuwendam was a volunteer coach with the Texas Tech University track and field team for three years from 2017-20. During her time in Lubbock she directly assisted coaching the NCAA outdoor track and field national champion in the 100m, 200m, and indoor 200m, seventh place finisher in the 200m, third place 4x100m relay team and runner-up finisher in the 400m hurdles. Additionally, she assisted the sprint and hurdles staff as they won the school's first ever NCAA Men's Track & Field Team Title. During her stretch the Red Raiders won team titles at the 2018 Big 12 Men's Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and 2019 Big 12 Men's Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Additionally, she played a role in the recruiting and meet day operations.
After completing her undergraduate degree at Central Florida, she joined their staff in 2016-17 as an assistant coach helping with the women's sprints, hurdles and relays where they won the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship in Women's Indoor Track & Field. Along with her coaching duties she was instrumental in recruiting and home event logistics.
Nieuwendam's accomplished athletics career includes participation in two Olympic Games. She competed in the 200M at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games while representing Suriname, a country on the northeastern coast of South America. In addition to her Olympic experience, Nieuwendam also represented the country in several international events including the World Championships, Pan American Games, Carifta Games and World Junior Championships.
As an undergraduate student Nieuwendam ran for Penn State in 2012 as a freshman and claimed a pair of medals at both the Big 10 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. On the outdoor track, she earned a bronze in the 200m and a silver as part of the 4x400m relay team. During the indoor championship, she earned silver medals in the 400m race and the 4x400m relay.
She closed out her collegiate career at Central Florida claiming three more medals during the American Athletic Conference's Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She claimed a gold medal in both the indoor 4x400m relay and the outdoor 4x100m relay and a silver medal in the outdoor 4x400m relay.
She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies at Central Florida and went on to earn a pair of Master's degrees in business administration and sport business management from the University of Central Florida and an additional Master's degree from Texas Tech University in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The accomplished sprinter also coached at a pair of high schools in Florida before moving to the collegiate level at UCF.
Nieuwendam holds two USATF coaching certifications including a Level 1 and Level 2 for coaching sprints, hurdles and relays.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AS AN ATHLETE
Representing Suriname
- 2006 Carifta Games (100m & 200m)
- 2007 World Championship (200m)
- 2007 South American Athletics Championship (100m & 200m)
- 2007 Pan American Games (100m & 200m)
- 2007 Inter Guyanese Games (gold medal 100m & gold medal 200m & gold medal 4x100m relay & 4x400m relay)
- 2008 Olympic Games – Beijing, China (200m)
- 2008 World Junior Championship (100m & 200m)
- 2008 Inter Guyanese Games (100m & 200m & 4x100m relay)
- 2008 Carifta Games (100m & 200m)
- 2010 World Junior Championships (100m)
- 2012 Olympic Games – London, England (200m)
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