During this past year, Nieve Keitel ‘27 has seen major success on the track. Individually and as part of the Germantown Academy team, she has thrived as a competitor, leading the way for the girls team to place third in the Inter-Ac.
Keitel was first inspired to run track by her middle school gym teacher, who was an accomplished track star. Although Keitel was originally a swimmer, she soon turned to running as her newfound passion.
“She ran throughout her entire life, and she’s an amazing runner, like placing in NCAA championships,” Keitel said. “So she was the one that really got me into running. So I just started with spring track, and I found it to be fun.”
Keitel is not only motivated by personal incentives, but also by the support and encouragement of the GA team. With their help, she has been able to find the extra kick to win close races.
“During my race last week, me and this girl were neck and neck,” Keitel said. “The whole GA team was cheering for me, and that definitely helped me finish the race.”
Even in the most challenging parts of a long-distance race, Keitel draws strength from the encouragement of her teammates.
“I just think that running is a sport that’s so difficult sometimes, especially mentally,” Keitel said. “So just having a good support system and having a good team is really helpful, and that’s helped me get to where I am today.
Furthermore, her teammates attribute her success to dedication and enthusiasm towards running. For Keitel, performing well comes more naturally when she finds joy in the hard work and sees her training pay off.
“Nieve is a really persistent runner. She is always willing to run multiple events, sometimes back to back, no matter how tired she is,” Walter Mulroy ‘26 said. “And during practices and training, she always puts in the effort required to succeed.”
This year, Keitel has achieved many personal accomplishments, including winning Inter-Acs in the 1600 meters with a record of 4:56.70 minutes. She also placed first team all Inter-Ac for cross country and first team all-Inter-Ac for track and field.
“Watching her compete is phenomenal, but it’s a direct parallel of the effort she puts in at practice,” head coach Steven Moll said. “She’s constantly looking for ways to improve, and when you have an athlete like Nieve, they raise the level of everyone around them.”
Looking ahead, Keitel is especially excited for future seasons for the chance to compete in higher-level events. With her leadership and key contributions, the GA track and field team will be excited to compete next season.