There were some significant differences in Abby Lampe’s second time tumbling in the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake championship.
The 2022 graduate with a degree in industrial and systems engineering was no longer the unknown American with braided pigtails in a black NC State sweatshirt. She stepped to the starting line at the top of the hill as the prerace favorite, the well-known American with braided pigtails in a red NC State hoodie.
In her postrace interview, she proudly showed off her “Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling Champion” branded T-shirt, designed and sold by NC State’s Wolfpack Outfitters in honor of winning the 2022 women’s title.
The outcome, however, was the same. Lampe, a fourth-generation NC State alum whose grandfather is the longest serving dean in the history of the College of Engineering, won the competition for a second time on Monday, defending her remarkable 2022 championship that brought her — and her alma mater — so much global recognition.
“There was similar excitement, for sure,” Lampe texted from the United Kingdom. “But I was glad I could do it a second time.”
If it had been a circular route, Lampe would have lapped the field in the Secretariat-like victory, scooting well ahead of the rest of the field. Afterward, she got a big hug from fellow NC State graduate Kimmy Grebbia (Engineering ’21).
“I don’t know how close of a race it was,” Lampe said, her face smeared with Gloucester mud. “I’m really thankful I was able to win again.”
Just like the first time, Lampe completed the race injury-free.
“I’m literally fine,” she said. “I played a lot of sports growing up, so I am used to getting battered down.”
Downhill, that is.
This post was originally published in NC State News.
- Categories:
