Triton track, field star continues to shine in college

Nell Graham doesn’t like to brag.
In fact, getting her accomplishments out of her is tricky. But Graham was a stand-out athlete at Triton High School during her years there, and is now achieving big things at college.
A Dodge Center native, Graham graduated from Triton High School in 2019. She participated in track and field there and is now doing so at North Dakota State University.
“I did OK,” Graham said of her high school track and field career. “I made it to state my freshman through senior year. I placed second and third a few times.”
She set school records at Triton, including in the 200, the 400 and the 800.
“She’s pretty humble,” said her Triton track and field coach Kim Swanson. “It’s been very fun to watch her continued growth at college. She is just an all-around athlete. She’s a kid who could be successful in whatever she tried. She was always willing to put in the work to get better.”
Graham got a track and field scholarship to attend NDSU, starting there in 2019. She just finished her fourth year at college and is starting her fifth year and final year this fall.
The 22-year-old is pursuing a career in speech pathology. This summer she’s living and working in Fargo, and works out every day as well as enjoys spending time with roommates.
“It’s my last summer living in a house with all my friends so we’re just going to make the most of it,” she said. “I’m working and training.”
For fun Graham goes to the lake, shops, plays board games and card games and enjoys bonfires.
Track and field is a winter and spring sport at NDSU, with winter track and field inside and spring outdoors. Graham runs the 400, 400 hurdles and pentathlon and heptathlon.
At NDSU, Graham is second in the 300-meter dash, which is an indoor event. She’s 8th all time in the 400, 7th all time in the 400 hurdles. She is sixth in school history in the heptathlon.
“I’m not super close to school records but I’m on the list so that’s cool I guess,” she said.
She and her roommate are hoping to go first and second in the 400 hurdles. Graham said this would be “a good way to end our careers. We’ll see.”
“I surprise myself a lot,” Graham said. “I’ve accomplished things that coming out of high school I never thought I could do. I have a lot left to give and accomplish. With COVID we got an extra year of eligibility and I’m excited to take that and hopefully build more success this year.”
PHOTO: Submitted Photo Triton High School graduate Nell Graham is continuing her successful track and field career at North Dakota State University.