University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Hurdlers Enjoy Unique Bond
4/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
By Jordyn Anderson, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- Teammates, competitors, and friends: Gopher hurdlers Emma Spagnola and Kimberly Golding have struck the perfect balance of being supportive teammates and fierce competitors. Racing head-to-head and practicing side-by-side has allowed a special bond to form between them.
The two track stars are close both on and off the track; in fact, they could not be any closer on the track. At the 2017 Big Ten Conference indoor championships, both Spagnola and Golding finished the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.13 seconds in the preliminary heats. They also ran identical times of 8.19 seconds in the event final. They ended the season tied for first on Minnesota's indoor all-time top-10 list.
"My first reaction was, 'How? How did we run the same exact time?' It's crazy that we ran the same exact time and broke the school record," said Spagnola.
Their bond off the track began when they first met upon Golding's arrival in Minnesota in January 2015.
"When Kim first got here, she practiced with me most of the time," Spagnola said. "We were together all of the time, and we just got used to each other."
"There are times when you need a person and when you need to be alone," Golding explained. "When I first got here, I needed her around."
The connection that formed years ago has created a steady support system; they are always there for each other. On the good days and bad days, Golding and Spagnola support and motivate one another. Their bond as teammates and friends has a positive impact on others as well.
"It is a huge blessing that they do love and care about each other," director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle said. "It makes it fun to come to practice because they have fun and still work very hard."
Bingle also said that the duo has brought in fellow hurdler Rachel Schow, and Golding and Spagnola are helping her improve, too.
"Having two national-level athletes who are going head-to-head each day and still love each other, especially at this level of competition, is amazing," Bingle said.
So how do the two hurdlers come to terms with the fact that only one of them can win?
According to Golding, it comes down to who is better, who is more healthy, relaxed, and calm, and who is more in the right mindset that day. Spagnola agrees that it is friendly competition between the two of them.
"When Kim does well, I get pumped and excited for her, and when I do well, she does the same for me," said Spagnola.
Golding and Spagnola both said that practicing, competing, and having fun together helps their friendship grow and gets them excited to run. Sometimes they may even have a little too much fun at practice together.
"I had to stipulate rules in practice," Bingle said with a smile on his face. "Inside of the lane is the focus zone and outside of the lane is the fun zone. It works though. They have a lot of fun together but still know how to focus, work hard, and get the job done."
The strong bond Golding and Spagnola have created not only helps them compete and succeed at high levels, but it extends past them as well. The positive impact they have on others, whether it be their coaches or other teammates, is evident. The Gopher duo is the epitome of what it means to be great teammates and even better friends.
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