How Kimberley May Went From Almost Quitting Running to Signing With New Balance & Turning Pro — The Mindset Shift That Made the Difference

The last time Kimberley May joined the show, she was a 4:27 miler pulling back the curtain on what it takes to compete at the highest level of collegiate running.

Since then, her career has accelerated into something much bigger.

In early 2025, May ran 8:44.73 for the indoor 3,000m, breaking the Providence College record and posting one of the fastest times in NCAA history. 

Over the past year, she has also risen to become the second-fastest New Zealand woman ever in both the 1,500m and the mile, cementing herself among the most accomplished middle-distance athletes her country has produced.

Her personal bests tell the story of remarkable range and progression: 2:03.46 (800m), 4:04.40 (1500m), 4:27.36 (mile), 8:44.73 (3,000m), and 15:26.50 (5,000m). That 4:04.40 in the 1500m ranks No. 2 all-time in New Zealand history, while her 4:27 indoor mile also sits second-fastest ever by a New Zealand woman.

Now, after a historic run at Providence, May is entering the next stage of her career: signing professionally with New Balance and stepping onto the global stage of middle-distance running. From NCAA standout to international contender, the trajectory of Kimberley May is only just beginning.

Tap into the Kimberley May Special. 

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