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Githa Hampson

By Daily Bruin Staff

June 8, 1997 9:00 p.m.

Monday, 6/9/97 Githa Hampson Women’s track

Githa Hampson is the only graduate of this year’s women’s cross
country squad. After a tumulous career that put her life on hold
several times before she decided to come to UCLA, Hampson leaves
with a Sociology degree at age 26. Though she was the No. 2 runner,
Hampson competed fiercely as a team player. This year, Hampson ran
for the women’s cross country team behind freshman phenom Kim
Mortensen. After overcoming anemia, her running career took off
during the 1996 cross country season. Hampson became one of the
most consistent runners on a very young team. Nicknamed "Mother
Githa" because of the maturity and experience which the team
greatly needed, Hampson only placed below the top 15 twice during
her 1996 campaign. Although her only cross-country victory came in
the 1994 Bronco Invitational, she placed as high as second in her
senior year as an almost invincible Mortensen almost always placed
ahead of Hampson. Because of eligibility requirements, Hampson
ended her career at UCLA running cross country rather than doing
track (she had already ran two seasons of track and only one of
cross country before the fall of 1996). Therefore, Hampson’s last
race was in the District VIII race at Fresno State University. For
the first time all season she upended Kim Mortensen (27th) by
placing 24th with a time of 5:45. She failed in her bid, though, to
qualify for the NCAA Championships. Hampson’s has always been proud
of her academic achievements. She earned an honorable mention
Pac-10 All-American for her 2.96 GPA in sociology. Even with her
Bruin running career over and done with, Hampson is ready for the
next step – life. By Vytas Mazeika, Daily Bruin Staff. Githa
Hampson

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