June 05, 2024
Runner Kimberley May’s secret to smashing records: ‘Trust in the training’
By Emily DiSarno ’26
With additional reporting by Caroline Austin ’26
Hundreds of eyes peered down the straightaway of the Ray Treacy Track at the Friar Invitational on April 12, 2024, seeming to will Kimberley May ’25 faster toward the finish line of the 800-meter race.
Those eyes had watched the All-American warm up as she stretched, went through her dynamics, and ran some strides on the windy evening of the annual home meet. Rev. Humbert Kilanowski, O.P., the team’s chaplain, had blessed May with the sign of the cross. And when the starting gun sounded, two pacers — teammates Alex O’Neill ’24 and Maeve O’Neill ’27 — had led May through the first lap in 58.5 seconds, well on pace to break her own school record of 2:05.00 from the same meet last year.
As the pacers peeled away and May took the lead alone, the crowd became more animated. Coming into the final curve, the cheers grew louder. And when May crossed the line, the digital clock revealed her time: 2:03.46, the fastest 800 ever run by a woman at Providence College and one of the fastest times in the country at that point in the season.
Father Kilanowski let out a whoop. “I pray with the team sometimes, and even blessed some of their dorms,” he said. One of those dorms was May’s, and she seems to be running with the blessing of fleet-footedness.
Along with smashing the school’s 800-meter record, in February the Auckland, New Zealand, native broke the BIG EAST indoor record in the 3,000-meter, which was held for two decades by Providence’s own Kim Smith ’05 (a fellow Kiwi). A day earlier, May had pulled the distance medley relay team to a first-place finish with a casual 4:29 mile, an all-around performance that earned her the title of Women’s Most Outstanding Performer in Track Events. This spring she was named Providence’s Female Athlete of the Year for Individual Sports.
Only a junior, May is well on pace to become one of the most decorated athletes in PC’s storied running program. What fuels her? From an outside perspective, it seems like the preparation to run insane times would be as strenuous and intense as the outcomes. But for May, it is quite the opposite.
“This past season, I have learned to trust my training and have fun on the day of a race,” she said. “There is nothing else you can do after you put in all the work.”
Routine-oriented, May wakes most days at 7:45 a.m. for her first run of the day, then gets in another workout during team practice at 1:00 or 2:30 p.m., eats dinner in Raymond Dining Hall around 6:30 p.m., and gets to sleep by about 10 p.m. Her pre-race routine is just as patterned.
“I have a coffee three hours before and I warm up 50 minutes before,” she said. “I always do the same thing.”
In contrast to that uniformity off the track, May has incredible versatility in her stride. She excels in the 1500-meter during outdoor track, the mile and 3,000-meter during the indoor season, and the 6K for cross country. Earlier this year at the Boston University Terrier Invite, she ran a 4:27 mile, which was the seventh fastest mile ever run by a woman in NCAA history. In the fall, she placed second in the BIG EAST cross country championship, leading the women to second place overall.
But May’s proudest achievement was running anchor in the 4×1500 meter relay at the prestigious Penn Relays a year ago.
“It was a shock,” May said of winning that race, which was apparent to anyone who was watching. She crossed the finish line with her arms outstretched and her mouth agape in an incredulous laugh as she was embraced by teammates Alex O’Neill, Shannon Flockhart ’24, and Jane Buckley ’26, who were also on the relay.
Although most people consider running to be an individual sport, May does not. She tries to put her teammates first, cheering them on during workouts and races, chatting with them on runs to create a comfortable environment, and refueling alongside them in Ray. This is a value she learned from her mom, her biggest inspiration.
“It’s because of the way she brought me up,” May said. “She is so selfless, and really puts everyone else before herself.”
May’s teammate and roommate Cara Laverty ’26 said she appreciates May’s attitude.
“In terms of Kim outside of practice, she is the exact same person,” Laverty said. “She is her usual kind, determined, and encouraging self, which is really nice to have.”
Another contributing factor to May’s success, besides her teammates and dedication to her training, is the coaching.
“The coaches are really the best part because I just get to listen to them and I trust them, so I don’t have any added stress about the training,” May said.
That trust has translated into results. May still has another year under the guidance of head coach Ray Treacy ’82, but she’s already come farther than she could have imagined a few years ago.
“Goals for freshman year were honestly just to be on the cross country team and travel,” May said. “Now I have a whole different outlook on running. I’ve got a lot bigger dreams.”
This story was written as an assignment for the Sports Journalism course taught by Stephen Kurczy, M.S., visiting professor of English, in the Spring 2024 semester. Emily DiSarno ’26, from Westfield, New Jersey, is a member of the track and cross country teams. Her majors are American studies and English/creative writing.
The Fund for Providence College supports the development of academic opportunities at PC, like this sports journalism class. A gift through The Fund for Providence College contributes to the success of faculty scholars and the students they teach.
