Two Georgia Southern track and field women broke school records at the end of their regular season earlier this month.

Freshman Leonaya Knox set a new school record in the 60-meter hurdles for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile, freshman Emily Wheldon set a new school record in the 5000-meter race, surpassing the previous mark set in 2020.

Breaking the school record is not a stroke of luck; it results from countless hours of training and dedication. I spoke with head coach David Neville and Leonaya Knox to learn more about their journey.

They expressed excitement and gratitude when they reflected on their record-breaking journey.

When asked about the moment she broke the record, Knox recalled, “I was running against a professional athlete so I thought she was going to push me to run faster but when I crossed the finish line, I felt like it was fast. I felt in my spirits. I was waiting for time so I ran to see the scoreboard. When I saw the scoreboard, I was in awe.”

“Leonaya is hardworking,” Neville said. “She just needed to be set up in the right race and so I knew that it could happen for her. I didn’t have any doubts.”

The team is all set for their conference championship now, and when asked about the next aim, Knox said, “The new goal is to always be better than I was the last time and just improve. I have faith and the confidence to say that no matter how I perform, win or lose, it’s always a learning experience for me.”

To other athletes aiming to break records, Neville said, “I think one of the big things for that is to make sure that your mindset is in the right place, you know you have to approach every race differently, each competition is differently based on who you are racing, or who you are surrounded by. And if you are not focused on the task at hand, then you are not going to have the success that you want. If you want to go out and break records, make sure your mind’s ready.”