The Emory University women’s track and field team is off to a strong start after a successful 2024-25 indoor season. Last season, the team saw then-graduate student Nikki Boon win the national championship in the indoor pentathlon, the first person in program history to do so. Additionally, the Eagles also earned two individual titles at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships.
The team began its 2025-26 indoor season on Dec. 5, competing at the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker in Birmingham, Ala. In the distance events, junior Hannah Riley came in first in the 800-meter, with sophomore Aaliyah Jalloh and senior Payton Sullivan coming in at third and fourth, respectively. Freshman sprinter and hurdler Kelsey Coley earned a 10th-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries and freshman thrower Caroline Henry took first in the weight throw.
On Jan. 15 and 16, the team picked back up after winter break with the Samford Invitational, again in Birmingham, where they had numerous top-20 placements during the tournament.
Junior distance runner Cameron Gupta said that at this point in the season, the team is still getting used to competition, but emphasized that the team is motivated for the months ahead.
“After winter break, it’s an adjustment getting back into it,” Gupta said. “But everyone just loves running on the team and enjoys being out there and training hard, so everyone is excited.”
As the season ramps up, the team is setting its sights high. Sophomore jumper and sprinter Amaya Grant said that she is aiming high for herself and for the team.
“My personal goals going into this season are definitely to try and make it to nationals and help my team win our UAA conference,” Grant said. “But my personal goal would be to get a personal record for myself.”
Grant said that not only are these runners, jumpers and throwers individually driven, but they also form a supportive team that leans on one another throughout the season. Being a jumper herself, she said that the jumpers, specifically, are close both on and off the track.
“We aren’t just teammates, we’re friends outside of track,” Grant said. “We really grew [together], even though we’ve only known each other for such a short period of time.”
Gupta echoed this sentiment, saying that her teammates' support is essential to her, even in what can be perceived as an individual sport.
“Distance running … is normally seen as an individual sport, but it is such a team sport,” Gupta said. “Being able to race alongside your teammates is really motivating, and it definitely encourages me to push myself harder.”
Entering his seventh year, head coach Linh Nguyen leads the team with the help of four assistant coaches and three volunteer coaches, including Boon. Senior mid-distance runner Madison Tiaffay said the coaches are very supportive and have helped her develop as an athlete and individual over the years.
“I can't say enough good things about them,” Tiaffay said. “They've been very amazing, have helped me grow as a runner in person over my four years.”
With a strong coaching staff and a roster full of experience and depth, the team looks to come out stronger than ever. Looking ahead, Tiaffay said she is most excited to get into the season and is feeling bittersweet about competing in her final college season.
“People are excited,” Tiaffay said. “For me and the other seniors, we’re definitely feeling nostalgic, but also very happy to be able to run our last seasons.”
