University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Meet the Newcomers: Nandini Satsangi
10/31/2019 8:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Get to know Gophers freshman Nandini Satsangi, a distance runner from Darnestown, Md.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman Nandini Satsangi joins the Golden Gophers cross country and track & field program as a distance runner from Darnestown, Md. Satsangi shares the family connection she has to running and the University of Minnesota, the proudest moment in her athletic career, her academic and professional goals, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you get into running?
Nadini Satsangi: I've always been running and have enjoyed it. I ran to school in elementary school. My mom really tried to get my sister into running, so they would wake up early and go on runs. Sometimes my older sister would not want to go, so I would ask to tag along. I think it annoyed them sometimes, because I was a lot slower, so when I came along, they'd have to bide their time.
GS: Did you do any other sports growing up?
NS: I did tennis, gymnastics, soccer, and swimming, although I was pretty bad at all of them. I was horrible at soccer, and I'm pretty sure I scored in my own net at least once, but I liked the running aspect of it. I finally got on a cross country team in fourth grade, and I loved it. Running is simple; you start and you finish, and there's really nothing else. There were so many complicated rules in other sports.
GS: What was your high school athletic experience like? Did you run cross country and track & field all throughout high school?
NS: For the most part. I didn't do indoor track season my freshman and sophomore years, I did swimming instead.
GS: Was there a season or a race that was a turning point for you where you realized you'd be able to run at the Division I level?
NS: I'm not sure. It was always a goal I had. Freshman year, I didn't realize what level I was running at, but my teammates told me I was fast. I kept improving all throughout high school, and I guess it just happened.
GS: Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?
NS: It was very last minute. The college process was a bit wild. I looked at Big Ten schools because I loved the atmosphere they produced. My mom went to the University of Minnesota and my sister currently goes here, so my sister recommended I apply to the U -- but I had no intention of attending here. I ended up speaking to the coaching staff and found that it was going to be the right fit for me, and I know I made the right decision. Fate has a way of working everything out, and I'm so happy with where I'm at now.
GS: Do you what you're going to study?
NS: I'm going to study engineering. Coming into high school, I wanted to be a doctor, but I got scared away by the amount of schooling and how intense it was. Then, it evolved into going into physical therapy because I knew I wanted to give back and was fascinated by the human body. Then I interned at a hospital and realized I didn't like it. I find the field very interesting, so I may end up taking a couple classes in it anyway. I participated in a couple engineering classes in high school, and I enjoyed what I learned in those courses. I love creating things, like sewing and baking, and engineering is an extension of that. I also have a goal of joining the Peace Corps when I graduate college, so I thought it would be a way to study what I'm interested in and then give back to other people.
GS: Are you happy to be at the same school as your sister?
NS: Yes, I am. We're close, so I'm excited to be near her again.
GS: What was your first impression of the team?
NS: When I visited, everyone was very nice and energetic. There are a ton of unique personalities on the team, so I knew I could be myself around them. Everyone is really close and tight-knit, and I think that's really cool.
GS: What's been your proudest moment in your athletic career so far?
NS: I'm proud of a lot of things I've done recently, but in eighth grade I ran a really good race at club nationals. That was the last race of my middle school career, and I don't remember the details, but I remember I had dropped a lot of time. The race was incredibly muddy, which is my favorite weather to run in, and I got a horrible start, so I knew I had to catch up to everyone. I ended up running way faster than I intended, and I ended up beating the coach's daughter, who was one of the best runner on our team (laughs). It was a nice way to close that chapter of my running career and open a new one.
GS: Do you like cross country or track more?
NS: Cross country. I like the longer distance, the courses, and being outside. I'm the opposite of most runners: I love hills. I think they're really fun, and it's a nice challenge to try and get to the top.
###