Ever since she arrived at Houghton two short years ago, Gwen Stokes has been turning heads on the track. On January 19, at the annual Highlander Invitational, she blazed ahead to set a personal best in the high jump— her main event—while also setting a season best in the long jump. Along with her teammates Mikayla Gaffney, Madelyn Kruth, and Emma Fox, she also finished third in the 4x400m relay. In the high jump, she is now ranked #1 in the Empire 8 and #15 in the nation among NCAA Division III athletes.
Although Stokes has only been setting records at Houghton for the past few years, her love for the sport goes back to her toddler days. “This is my 5th indoor track season doing the high jump,” Stokes said, “but I’ve been doing track since 7th grade and have been around track since I was born.”
Patrick Hager, Houghton’s track and eld coach, also highlighted Stokes’ lifelong familiarity with the sport as one of her most valuable assets. “Gwen was a very touted recruit for our program a couple of years ago,” he said. “Her high school accomplishments in cross country, and as a power athlete in track, were unique. What I really like about Gwen is that she comes from a track and eld family, and has deep knowledge of the sport. She’s what you would call a true ‘track junkie.’” Stokes’ passion for the technical aspects of the sport, such as progressive rankings and times, keeps the entire team on their toes.
“We knew she could help us take the next step as a program,” Hager said, but added that Stokes’ introduction to the Houghton track team had not always been an easy one. “[It] came with some growing pains,” he said. “A lot of it was just adjusting to new coaching and new training. Thus far this year, she’s jumping at as high a level as she ever has.” Stokes also spoke of the difficulties she had encountered since transitioning from high school to college track, describing a year filled with injuries and missteps. “I wasn’t performing to the level I was capable of or the level I wanted to be performing at,” she commented. “But my coaches and teammates were all very supportive. It has also been extremely challenging working through injuries while still balancing training, and trying to get my athletic workload just right to minimize injury and maximize performance.”
That consistent, enthusiastic support from teammates has been crucial not only to Stokes’ exceptional standout performances, but also to her fierce and consistent dedication to the sport. “One of the most special and encouraging experiences for me in track was at NCCAA Indoor Nationals last year in the high jump,” she recalled. “A bunch of my teammates came and sat and watched me jump the whole time, even though I wasn’t jumping particularly well. To me, that was more meaningful than the All-American award I received that day.”
“I’m really happy to have reached this level in jumping,” Stokes said of her recent accomplishments as a Highlander. “I am so thankful to have had such supportive coaches, who will do anything to help me succeed, and amazing teammates, both in high school and now here at Houghton. My entire family has also been very supportive and encouraging, trying to help me achieve the most I can, so I am just very happy to have been able to perform well for all those who have invested in me.”