Kalani Witherspoon

Kalani Witherspoon is a track athlete-sprinter at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the daughter of Derrick Witherspoon, a retired professional American football player with the National Football League (NFL).

Early Life and Education

Witherspoon is a 2023 graduate of Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia. While in high school, Witherspoon 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 . She still holds the record for 100 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles at Carrollton High School. In 2023, she placed first in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.73 seconds.

1n 2022, as a gymnast, she won first place in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State 7A Gymnastics Championships. 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

Collegiate Career

She is currently a sprinter at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill She finished 16th overall in the 100 meter hurdles at the Raleigh Relays in January 2024.

Personal Life

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).