FAIRBANK — Wapsie Valley’s Jaylin May was slow to track.
Once she got into it, she was all in.
“I never had a seventh-grade track season, so I was just kind of like, ‘I’m going to go out in eighth grade to see if I like it,’” May said Friday. “I never thought I’d be able to run in college, so I’m excited for that.”
May committed to run for Division III Wartburg College, signing a celebratory letter of promise alongside family, coaches and friends to run for the Knights. The sprinter joins former Warrior thrower Elle Voy as recent Wartburg commits; Voy is in her second season throwing for the Knights.
May’s father JP works at Wartburg, which gave Jaylin a hyper-local college team to grow up with.
“I’ve gone to basketball games, volleyball, football games my whole life,” May said. “I met with the track coaches, and they are very nice. The whole team is very supportive; I’ve gone to a couple camps there. It stood out to me because they are so supportive, and they get to know you. It’s not, ‘Oh, this is just another runner.’”
May placed ninth during the 100-meter dash the 1A state meet last season (12.73 seconds) and was part of the bronze-winning 400 relay (50.78). She also ran as part of the 800 relay (sixth, 1:48.56).
“Jaylin is an exceptional person,” girls head coach Duane Foster said. “Watching her on the track is really fun. Any time she is out there you know you have a chance of winning. Whether it be the 100, 200, 400 or any relay she is involved in she’s going to give the team a great chance. She doesn’t complain, just goes to work. She will be a great asset to Wartburg and we wish her well.”
May won Edgewood-Colesburg state qualifier meet golds, and the automatic qualifier spots, in the 100 (12.82) and the 400 relay (51.9). Wapsie placed runner-up in the 800 relay (1:50.56) to qualify.
She also won the North Iowa Cedar League 100 dash gold (12.86).
“Freshman year, I was still like, ‘I’m just going to enjoy it,’” the four-sport athlete said. “Sophomore year I thought a little about it, and it really hit junior year. ‘This is something I want to do, and I need to keep improving.’”
She was part of Wapsie’s 93rd-place Drake Relays 400 relay (53.16) in 2023, with top times of 13.19 in the 100 and 27.9 in the 200. She also landed a season-best long jump of 14 feet, 2.25 inches.
May placed 14th at the 2022 1A state 100 dash (13.66) and was part of Wapsie’s ninth-place 400 relay (51.7) and ninth-place sprint medley (1:54.84).
Her top times this season so far are 12.95 in the 10, 52,29 in the 400 relay and 1:51.42 in the 800 relay.
“I’m really excited,” May said. “I’m actually beyond excited and I can’t wait for this next step in my life.”
May ran cross-country in the fall, played basketball in the winter and plays softball in the summer. She is also involved in school theater, among other activities.
“She is involved in so many activities at Wapsie Valley. Just a special person,” Foster said.
