Indeed, Penn State has seen her grow into their new track and field star. The Australian has been breaking records ever since she stepped on American soil and it looks like she doesn’t intend to stop making the headlines anytime soon. Hayley Kitching joined the Pennsylvania State University in 2022 and ever since then, she has been a beast on the field. But in 2024, she was different. She was a faster beast. In the early season of the 2024 NCAA, the 20-year-old broke a record in the Nittany Lion Challenge, running a 1,000 meter in 2:39.86, which is the third-fastest ever recorded by a collegian, surpassing her mark in school history. No wonder Brooks, a leading global running brand, chose to sign her.

On February 12, FloTrack tweeted pictures of Hayley Kitching holding and wearing the Brooks running shoes while also being dressed in their colors. The tweet also featured a statement from Hayley as well, she said, “I’m super excited to partner with Brooks as an NIL athlete because I am passionate about the inclusive community that they promote and their drive to make everyone feel more excited about getting out there and being active. I’m excited to see what I can do with them by my side!”

The Australian is overjoyed with the NIL deal, as the shoes won’t only help her run faster and farther in her career, but also the gear she puts on would be compatible with her heart. The brand has been dedicated to promoting a safe and inclusive environment, where everyone feels a sense of belonging and can be valued as their authentic selves. This then resonates in their participation in events like the 46th annual Seattle Pride Parade.

And such an association is bound to fill Hayley with immense joy. She said, “I’m super excited to partner with Brooks as an NIL athlete because I am passionate about the inclusive community they promote and their drive to make everyone feel more excited about getting out there and being active. I’m thrilled to see what I can accomplish with them by my side!”

Moving on, talking of Hayley at Penn State, the junior finished fourth in the country in the 800m earning the First Team All-America honors. And it just did not stop there, as she also won the Big Ten titles in the 600 m and 800 m, earning herself Big Ten Women’s Track Athlete of the Championships honors. This was just the indoor season. If you think this is it, hold up. There’s more.

In her outdoor season the same year, the seven-time Penn State school record-holder finished fifth in Division I in the 800 meters in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the highest-ever by a women’s 800-meter runner in Penn State history. She is also the one who won the 800-meter title with a meet record-setting 2:02.54 in the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.

Now that we have glanced back at the type of performances she has delivered, is it really a surprise that she bagged this NIL Deal? Further, Brooks Sports Marketing Manager Derek Lactaoen has also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “Hayley is one of the most exciting young athletes in the sport, and the energy she brings to her running mirrors our own. Just within the first couple months of this season, she has already generated headlines, buzz, and excitement with incredible performances on the track. Off the track, her positivity and vibrant personality don’t take long to inspire anyone she meets. We’re looking forward to our future together!”

One could say that she may be far away from her native land, but if they look at her performance and the records she’s setting, it would be hard to say that she’s a foreigner in these lands.

Hayley Kitching: From Coffs to Penn

Hayley grew up in Australia, over 10,000 miles away from the Pennsylvania State University. She was the record breaker for the Coffs Harbor Senior College before she received the scholarship from Penn State to study kinesiology and continue her track training. Kitching, 17 at that time, decided that it was time to move away from home and stamp her footprints in a foreign land, an 18.5-hour flight away. And so she did once graduated from Coffs Harbor in 2022.

Kitching fell in love with track and field when she was young. In an interview for Penn State she said, “As soon as I started school, when we would have the little cross country meets and 100-meter sprints, I would always beat the boys. I always knew from a young age that maybe it was something I was good at.”

And Goddamn, good she is, breaking records right and left. The NIL deal with Brooks is another one of her accolades. Fans and enthusiast definitely have their eyes on the Nittany Lion, hoping for her to run even faster on both the track and the record sheet as well. How do you think she’s gonna do in the 2025 season? Let us know in the comments section.