LA CROSSE, Wis. — Kimona Haynes, a senior at Belhaven University, secured a spot in the women’s 400-meter final at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Haynes finished eighth in Friday’s preliminary round with a time of 55.40 seconds, finishing second in her heat and earning one of the qualifying spots for Saturday’s race. She finished just ahead of Case Western’s Gianna Phipps, who clocked 55.43 seconds in the same heat.
Entering the championships, Haynes posted her personal best of 54.80 seconds at the CCS Championships last month, a mark that ranks as the top 400-meter time in Division III this season. She also ran 55.06 seconds at the Belhaven Invitational and 55.21 seconds at the Belhaven Mid Week Challenge this spring, maintaining a consistent outdoor campaign.
The senior has been a top sprinter in the South Region and qualified in the 200-meter dash with a school-record and conference-leading 24.26 seconds at the Belhaven Invitational. She was named the 2026 CCS Women’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, leading the conference in the 100, 200, and 400 meters.
Haynes concludes her conference career as the CCS all-time leader in nine First Team All-Conference selections and 15 total all-conference honors. She will compete in the women’s 400-meter final Saturday at 2:10 p.m., aiming to finish her collegiate career on the podium.
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