After competing at Catawba College from 2021-24, Mikayla Jones was ready for something new. While looking for universities in North Carolina to transfer to, she was specifically focusing on places where she could find a business analytics program. She discovered Elon University’s data analytics program and masters’ program and decided to take a visit to the campus with her boyfriend’s mom who lived nearby to meet the coaches.
She met up with then head coach Kevin Jermyn and her tour solidified her decision.
“As soon as we were on campus, we were like, ‘Wow, this is really nice,’ and as soon as we talked to the coaches, we were probably halfway through the tour, I knew that this was the place I wanted to come to,” Jones said. “It just seemed like I really fit here.”
Similarly, Arianna Alexander — a sprinter — was looking for a program to transfer to after spending five years at California State Northridge. Despite Elon offering her a full ride scholarship for her athletic ability, Elon’s academics is what really stood out to her and attracted to the university.
“I was really interested in the communication design program because I thought it would go in hand with the marketing education I had already taken on, and I looked at the alumni network and the support system that was here, and it just seemed like a really good opportunity for my last year,” Alexander said.
Soon after Jones had committed, Jermyn left for the head coaching job at Duke University, leaving Jones a bit nervous. In her visit to campus she hadn’t met any of her teammates and now she didn’t even know the coach. But once Jermyn’s replacement, Mark Rinker, arrived, she began to feel more comfortable. Jones said Rinker’s method of training has vastly improved her abilities as a distance runner.
“I moved my mileage up a little bit to 70 miles a week, and you got to really buy into his training and just put forth everything you have into it; you got to be honest with your efforts,” Jones said. “He’s really good with moving things around. I got sick a couple weeks ago and he said, ‘Oh, it’s fine. Do this if you can, if not, it’s no big deal.’ There’s no pressure to perform a certain way and he really looks at you as a person.”
At first the transition was tough for Jones as she was joining a team of 30 athletes after being part of a nine-member team at Catawba College, which is a school of only about 1,500 students. She said her first practice was overwhelming but said the team did a good job of welcoming her in.
“Everyone invited me to hang out and do different things, so I got to find my really close friends, but everyone was still nice,” Jones said. “On workouts, everyone’s always like, ‘Oh, great job. You’re doing awesome’, and I do the same, which is really nice."
The transition was also eased by Jones’ roommate and teammate, Mariana Martinez. Martinez is also a transfer student, giving them the ability to relate on the assimilation to the new environment. Jones said they are best friends and do everything together. Alexander said having other transfers on the team helps her feel more “invited” and at home.
The transition was a stark change to Alexander’s life because she was a California native who had never lived across the country. She said it has taught her a lot of independence, and said the team was really helpful in welcoming her in. Alexander said teammates showed her around and even offered to drive her to various places so she could buy things that she was unable to pack since she was moving from so far away.
Jones has found success immediately at Elon, recently setting a school record in the 5,000m race with a time of 16:07.51 on Feb. 15. The time is almost 28 seconds faster than any other runner in program history. Jones said she is excited for her and her teammates to continue breaking records and getting personal records.
“I’m excited for just the potential of how far the girls on my team and I can run this year,” Jones said. “That was a huge PR, one that we’ve been so excited about all week, but I just want to see how fast we can get the whole team to move up. I think everyone wants to PR. Everyone’s excited about it and has been running really well.”
With the outdoor season coming up for the Phoenix, Jones aims to make the NCAA Regionals at the 5k or 10k races.
Alexander, who set the school record for the 60m at Cal State Northridge, also has her sights set on breaking records. She broke the school’s indoor 60m record with a time of 7.51 at the Coastal Athletic Association Indoor Track & Field Championships. She said she hopes to break her personal favorite race, the outdoor 100m race.
“I like the challenge of breaking the record. It’s something to shoot for because sometimes if you’re doing this without a goal, it doesn’t give you that drive you need,” Alexander said. “So having those records to look forward to and have as a target, it’s been really helpful and I’ve gotten faster every single indoor meet.”