VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

As a child, Kiara Porter liked money. She liked it so much that she never wanted to spend it. That is, she didn't want to spend her own money.

"Every time I got money I was like, 'Mom, can we just use your money? I don't want to use mine,'" Porter said. "I was very frugal as a child. ... I would give a limit for my friends for Christmas and their birthdays. I would give a $10 limit."

As an adult, there's something the 20-year old likes just as much as money: running.

"In eighth grade, I was allowed to try out for the JV track team in high school," Porter said. Running track, she said, was a way to feel close to her mom, a former high school runner herself who was in the Air Force and overseas for much of Porter’s childhood.

Now a rising senior majoring in finance at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, Porter excels in both her passions. The 5-foot Porter is a three-time All-American and a three-time Academic All-American. To achieve the latter designation, one must make it to the first round of the NCAA Track & Field Championships in an event while carrying a 3.0 GPA or higher. For the former, one must advance to the second round of the championships.

In June, Porter became the first VCU sprinter ever to earn first team All-American honors with her eighth-place finish in the 400-meter dash.

This month, she travels to Kamloops, British Columbia, as one of four members of the United States 400-meter team in the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Under-23 Championships. The meet will be held Aug. 8-10.

“My first impression of Kiara was ‘Wow,’ said Jon Riley, head coach of men's and women's track and field at VCU. “I couldn't believe my eyes. She was so explosive and fast. She has a quiet confidence about herself and she has a chip on her shoulders. Her work ethic and work capacity separate her from most runners."

That work ethic carries over to the classroom, where Porter maintains a 3.495 GPA. She splits most days between the classroom, the track and her room, where she is often at work on her studies. She said the balance required can be challenging, and she sometimes has to make sacrifices, such as making class selections based in part on her practice schedule.

Although the demands of excelling in both realms has been difficult, it’s been worth it. Porter hopes to attend VCU for graduate school for a degree in business administration that would allow her to ultimately mix sports and finance. Her goal is to become a financial adviser for a Division I sports program.

But first, Porter has one more year of undergrad, and more major competitions to complete.

At this month’s NACAC competition, the top two finishers will compete in their respective open events and the others will join the top two in a relay following the open event. This is Porter’s second time on a world team. In 2012, she represented the United States as a member of the women's 4x400m relay team at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

“My coach has really inspired me,” Porter said. “Freshman year, I had no idea I was even eligible to make the world junior team. He never really stressed it that much until later in the season. The fact that he got to go to Barcelona, Spain, with me really meant a lot because I've never been out of the country. And my mom wasn't able to go so that really meant a lot for him to be there."

Porter prepared for the upcoming championships by resting up and taking things day by day.

“This is amazing,” she said. “I really just wanted to end my season. I was really tired, had been running since January. But when I found out I made the team I just didn't care about stopping for the season.”

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