The UNC Asheville track and field team competed at their final regular season meet this past weekend at Western Carolina, where junior transfer Kieayla Williams continued to make an impact in the sprint events. Competing in both the 100 and 200 meters, Williams put together another strong showing as she continues to build momentum heading into the postseason.
In the 100 meters, Williams currently sits top 15 in the Big South Conference, showing consistency in one of the most competitive events on the track. She followed that up with an even stronger performance in the 200 meters, where she ran a time of 24.65 at the Western Carolina meet. That mark has her ranked top 8 in the conference and continues to move her up among the top sprinters this season.
‘It felt like a solid race overall,” Williams said. “I’ve been working on my start and staying smooth through the curve, so it was good to see that come together.”
Since transferring into the program, Williams has quickly made her presence known. Her performances this season have already placed her among the top athletes in school history, where she currently ranks top five all time in the 100 meters and top three all time in the 200 meters. Her ability to step in and produce right away has been a big boost for the team’s sprint group.
“I’ve just been trying to come in and do my part,”she said. “The team has been really supportive, so it’s made the transition a lot easier for me.”
In addition to her individual success, Williams has also played a key role in the relay group. She was part of the 4×100 meter relay team that recently set a new school record, highlighting the team’s overall speed and chemistry. The group has continued to improve their exchanges each meet, which has helped them stay competitive against strong conference teams.
“The relay has been really fun”, she said. “We’ve been working a lot on our exchanges, and it’s been cool to see everything click.”
As a sprinter competing in both the 100 and 200, Williams has focused on staying consistent and executing each phase of her races. Whether it’s getting out the blocks, attacking the curve in the 200, or maintaining form down the stretch, she continues to find the rhythm each meet. Her growth throughout the season has shown in both her times and confidence on the track.
“I just try to stay relaxed and trust my training,” Williams said. “Every race is a chance to improve on something.”
With the Big South Championship approaching, Williams has positioned herself as a key contributor for UNC Asheville. Her performance at Western Carolina added to an already strong season and showed that she is continuing to trend in the right direction at the right time.
As the team prepares for postseason competition, Williams will look to build off her recent success. With conference rankings, school record marks, and relay experience already in place, she is set up to make an impact in both individual and team events in the coming weeks.
