Kyra Caldwell, a product of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was a four-year member of the women’s track & field program from 2008-2012.
A defining moment in Caldwell’s career came in her final season with the team, as she played a pivotal role in Columbia’s historic, first-ever Ivy League Indoor Heps Championship in 2012. Her contributions were instrumental, as Caldwell secured multiple fourth-place finishes in the competition.
Caldwell’s most individual success came in the years 2010 and 2011. She rose to prominence as the Indoor Heps Champion in the fiercely competitive 60m hurdles event. Caldwell also contributed to a 4x400m Relay championship at the 2010 Outdoor Heps and the 2011 Indoor Heps.
On the outdoor track, Caldwell would continue dominating the hurdles events. Consecutive victories in the 100m hurdles during the 2009 and 2010 Outdoor Heps Championships were just the start, as she also shined in the 400m hurdles, where Caldwell claimed gold medals at the Ivy League Heps in 2010 and 2011. From 2009-2011, Caldwell qualified for the NCAA East Regional four times.
To this day, Caldwell’s name is still etched in Columbia’s record book. She initially set the program and Ivy League record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.24, but her impressive mark currently ranks fourth all-time. Caldwell was also a driving force behind record-setting performances in the 4x400m relay, achieving outstanding times of 3:37.67 indoors and 3:35.69 outdoors, which still stand alone atop Columbia’s record book today.
Caldwell’s legacy in hurdles events still stands, as her impressive record of 57.98 in the 400m hurdles remains the program’s benchmark. She also occupies second place on the all-time list in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.80.
