Nikia Chapman: Queen of speed

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On October 25, 2012

Female rider Nikia Chapman helped lead the Human-Powered Vehicle Team to victory … in Elmo Socks. (Photo by Bob Phelan)

Stats: sophomore in geological engineering from Columbia, Mo.

Member of: Spelunking Club and Human-Powered Vehicle Team.

Claim to fame: Led the Human-Powered Vehicle team to a first-place win in ASME’s Human-Powered Vehicle Competition in Tooele, Utah, by winning first place in the women’s drag race and riding the four required “female laps” of the endurance race.

Why HPV: “I was asked to join because they were looking for a girl rider and I agreed because it sounded like fun. I like the competitive aspect of the race. I’ve never been on a sports team so this is the first time I’ve ever been in something this competitive. It’s also a good way to challenge myself on a physical level.”

Battle scars: “In a competition in Pennsylvania, I took a few spills in the endurance race. One happened when another team’s bike ran into me. The crashes resulted in multiple large holes in my jersey and leggings. The EMT had to cut my Under Armour shirt sleeve off because my arm had swelled up so large. I have a fairly large scar. It stopped me from completing the number of laps required by a female rider, but a girl from one of our competitors — Rose-Hulman — completed the laps for me.”

Good luck charm: Chapman competes wearing red Elmo socks.

Goals for the year: “I am team secretary. I want to be more involved with the team both in and out of the shop. I will also be shadowing team president Dashiell Moore (a senior in engineering management) in hopes of taking his place next year.”

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Posted by

On October 25, 2012. Posted in Around the Puck, Fall/Winter 2012, Profiles, Students