Kalani Witherspoon

Kalani Witherspoon (born 15 February 2005) is a track athlete-sprinter at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.^[1] She is the daughter of Derrick Witherspoon, a retired professional American football player with the National Football League (NFL).^[2]

Witherspoon is a 2023 graduate of Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia, where she was both a gymnast and a sprinter. In 2023, Witherspoon was the Georgia High School Association champion in the 100 meter hurdles event. In 2022, as a high school junior, she was runner-up in the state for 100 meter hurdles ^[2] She still holds the record for 100 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles at Carrollton High School.^[3] In 2023, she placed first in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.73 seconds.^[4]

In 2022, as a gymnast, she won first place in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State 7A Gymnastics Championships.^[5] The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an article highlighting the connection of Kalani Witherspoon and her father, Derrick Witherspoon when she competed in the New Balance Nationals^[6]

She is currently a sprinter at the University of North Carolina^[2] She finished 16th overall in the 100 meter hurdles at the Raleigh Relays in January 2024.^[7]

Witherspoon is the daughter of Kolowa and Derrick Witherspoon. Her father, Derrick Witherspoon played football and ran track at Clemson University (1990-1993) and played American football professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles (1995-1997).

• Kalani Witherspoon at World Athletics