Featured Athlete /// Mekayla Gibson


WWU Women’s


XC GOAT


Gibson’s Journey From Farmer to Three-Time All-American


Story By: Robby Campbell Photography By: William Woods Athletics


     That kind of success doesn’t happen naturally or regularly, and for Gibson, her upbringing and mentality were the roots of all her accomplishments on the cross country course.


“I grew up on a farm, which taught me a lot about hard work and dedication,” Gibson said. “By growing up on a farm, it not only made me physically tough but mentally tough. My parents never did any sports throughout their school years, but they are part of the reason why I am who I am. They taught me all about hard work and dedica- tion through working on a farm. These core values were built upon as I started running in high school. They were built through amazing coaches I had in high school and so many more life lessons. So no, my athletic success doesn’t come genetically but comes from the people I hold closest to my heart.” Although Gibson didn’t have a family member who ran cross coun- try, she did have a helpful coach during a time when the foundation


82 /// January 2025


of an athlete’s career is typically set—high school. That individual  mann, with whom Gibson won back-to-back district team titles in her junior and senior seasons and earned all-state honors at the MSHSAA Class 3 Girls Cross Country State Championships.  in myself,” Gibson said. “He knew my potential even when I didn’t think I could do it. He was just overall a great coach to have, and he pushed me to become the athlete I am today.” Four years after receiving all-state at Gans Creek Cross Country


 and made her third consecutive NAIA National Championship appear- ance. That alone was impressive, but Gibson added more by resetting her   “Distance running is a body of work and consistency,” William


 kayla continued to get faster at the right time, and the title of fastest WWU runner in history is quite an achievement.”


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