Over recent years, the American collegiate system has become an increasingly attractive pathway for young British talents. The latest to make the move is Kishi Aremu, who, drawn by the quality of facilities, scientific support and the highly competitive nature of the NCAA, will cross the Atlantic to continue the early stages of her career. She follows in the footsteps of fellow young Britons such as Matthew McKenna and Lyla Belshaw, who have also recently opted for the US college route.
Kishi Aremu following in the footsteps of her compatriots
Born in 2008, Kishi Aremu has emerged over the past few months as one of the most exciting prospects in British sprinting. A 100 metres specialist, she made a significant statement during the 2025 season with an outstanding performance in Mannheim on 28 June, at one of Europe’s leading junior meetings, clocking 11.69 seconds (+1.1 m/s).
That time saw her break the Scottish U17 record, which had stood since 1980 and was set by Lindsey McDonald, ending a 45-year wait. It also made her the second-fastest Scottish athlete of the year across all age groups, beaten only by Alyson Bell and ahead of numerous far more experienced sprinters. On a UK-wide scale, the performance placed Aremu second among British U17 athletes in 2025, level with Celine Obinna-Alo and just seven hundredths of a second behind Aliyah Afolabi.
With that 11.69, Aremu has firmly established herself among the very best European sprinters in her age group, while also underlining her long-term potential to compete at senior elite level in the years ahead.
Her commitment to the University of New Mexico therefore represents a natural and carefully considered step in her development. By joining the NCAA, Aremu becomes part of a broader movement that continues to gather momentum: no fewer than 491 British athletes will be studying and competing in the United States this season, a figure that speaks volumes about the growing appeal of the American collegiate system. Hundreds of other young Europeans have made similar choices, not only in athletics but also in sports such as swimming, drawn by the combination of elite competition, world-class facilities and integrated academic support.
For a sprinter as young as Aremu, access to cutting-edge training environments, personalised medical and performance monitoring, and weekly competition at a very high level represents a crucial platform for continued progression.
In Albuquerque, she will also be joining a group of British athletes who have already proven themselves on the international stage. Rebecca Grieve, a 400 metres specialist and European U23 champion in the 4x400m relay in 2025, is one of the programme’s current leading figures. Originally from Currie, near Edinburgh, Grieve notably claimed world U20 bronze as part of the British relay team in Lima in 2024.
Another key reference point is Brodie Young, bronze medallist in the 400 metres at the 2025 European U23 Championships and a central figure in Britain’s relay squads. Having joined the University of New Mexico in 2022, the athlete from Chryston took a decisive step forward in the United States, lowering his personal best to 45.34 seconds and earning selection for British Athletics’ Olympic Futures Programme. Examples such as these only serve to reinforce the credibility and logic of Aremu’s decision.
And it would be impossible to discuss New Mexico without mentioning Josh Kerr. The 2023 world champion over 1500 metres, Olympic silver medallist in Paris in 2024 and current British record holder, Kerr also forged a vital part of his career in Albuquerque. Arriving in the United States at a young age, he won three NCAA titles and set the collegiate record for 1500 metres, before establishing himself as one of the world’s leading middle-distance runners. His journey continues to inspire an entire generation of British athletes considering the NCAA pathway.
The University of New Mexico, a major NCAA force despite a distance-oriented profile
While sprinting has not traditionally been the flagship discipline of the programme, the University of New Mexico has firmly established itself in recent seasons as one of the NCAA’s leading institutions, particularly in middle- and long-distance events. The most recent campaign offered a clear illustration of that strength.
On the men’s side, Ishmael Kipkurui claimed the NCAA title over 10,000 metres, while Habtom Samuel secured silver medals over both 5,000 and 10,000 metres. In the women’s competition, Pamela Kosgei delivered a standout performance by winning NCAA titles over 5,000 and 10,000 metres, breaking the championship record in the latter event.
Those results helped the university finish fifth in the combined men’s standings and ninth in the women’s, underlining the overall depth and consistency of the programme. For Kishi Aremu, developing in such a demanding environment — even within a system traditionally geared towards distance running — represents a valuable opportunity. New Mexico has already demonstrated its ability to guide British athletes towards the highest level, and there is little doubt that Aremu will find the resources, structure and expertise required to turn her considerable potential into top-level performances.
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