Polina Babkina is representing Hawai’i Pacific University on the Cross Country team for this season alone. Originally from Sochi, Russia, Babkina completed her first three years of eligibility as a college athlete for the University of West Alabama, before deciding to transfer to HPU for her senior year to compete. Polina wanted to come to HPU to experience the Hawaiian culture and the diversity that the college offers.
Babkina is a tremendously talented athlete who was the GSC Runner of the Week three consecutive times in 2012. She also placed 1st in the GSC conference race, and 6that regionals. Polina was awarded All-Region in both 2011 and 2012. Her academics are as impressive as her athletic abilities, she shows as she was honored to the All-Academic team as well, during the same years she as All-Region, in 2011 and 2012.
Since at HPU, she has finished in second place in the first two races of the season, the Hawai'i Pacific Invitational and the UH Big Wave Invitational. In doing so she led HPU as a team to 2nd place finishes in both races as well.
