Taylor women’s track and field is working hard and pushing past limits as they approach their final two outdoor meets of the regular season.
With each meet, the women have exceeded expectations. At NAIA Indoor Nationals, they secured a fifth-place finish—the highest they have placed at Indoor Nationals.
On top of that, athletes are breaking personal records and continuing to build momentum as they continue into the outdoor season.
Junior Kiana Siefert achieved her season-best long jump at the Little State Championships, with 18 feet 2.25 inches. After her impressive performance, she was named Crossroads League Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week.
Siefert has ambitious goals for the rest of her season, hoping to qualify for Nationals in long jump, triple jump, or hurdles.
“My goal is to hit one of those, or at least PR,” she said. "But I also just want to feel like I did my best and know that I tried my hardest.”
For the team’s goals, Siefert said she thinks placing top three in conference is highly attainable. Head coach Derek Gay, like Siefert, has strong ambitions for his team. He believes they have a shot at placing in the top three or four at their upcoming outdoor meet on May 1.
Gay spoke about the entire team with pride, noting the women’s connectedness and drive.
“We’ve got some very top-tier talent,” he said. “But even the girls who maybe aren’t making the headlines, they are still proving every day at practice that they are really dedicated and driven and want to be the best they can be.”
Gay’s love for the sport is evident, and he is confident his team will succeed. He has been Taylor’s track and field head coach for five years now.
Beyond success, he said that the biggest thing for him is the way he and his team respond to good and bad results.
“At the end of the day, we need to zoom back and see what this is really about,” he said. “It’s about learning to use and develop your gifts—regardless of how you perform—and being a light for the kingdom.”
As the women grow as athletes, they are also growing in relationship with the Lord. Siefert said she has seen God working this season through the highs and lows.
“I have been trying to keep a joyous mindset and really focus on what the Lord is teaching me in this season,” she said. “Track is a sport that I love; it’s a sport that He’s given me the ability to do.”
Karley Kabel, a junior thrower, has also been leaning into God, working on how she can throw to glorify Him
Kabel has seen significant accomplishments so far this year, achieving a major PR in Georgia at the Little State Championships: she reached 10.89 meters in shot put, up from her previous 10.22 meters. She practices with purpose, working hard and encouraging her teammates to do the same.
“I not only take responsibility for the things that I’m doing, but also for the things my teammates are doing,” she said. “I want to encourage them and say, ‘Hey, as a team, we want to achieve greatness, so let’s do that together.’”
As the final stretch of the season approaches, athletes like Siefert and Kabel are paving the way for the team to not only finish strong, but also to compete with purpose.
While chasing national qualifications and breaking personal bests, the Trojans show that success is deeper than the game.
They are ready to finish strong together. The Trojans take on the Crossroads League Championships on May 1 and 2 and the Last Chance Meet on May 8 to 9.
