It’s been said that “in the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.”
In life, we all are dealt a hand of adversity. Whether it’s in the workplace, in a classroom, on the field, or even just in daily tasks and routines, it would be nearly impossible to find someone who has never faced any sort of challenge or setback.
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Within those setbacks, though, lie some of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. We just have to dig deep and battle through difficulties to find them.
For WVU track and field standout Lily Haught, her two years as a runner for the Mountaineers have been nothing short of challenging. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, the daunting task of being a collegiate-athlete, like it does for many, has often taken a toll on her ability to fight through expected adversity.
To her, though, the rewards have been worth the struggle. And with two years left in her career, she’s sure that the best moments are yet to come.
Haught, a former track and field standout at Hurricane High School, says that the decision to continue to pursue track in college became apparent early on in her career. Despite uncertainties that stayed with her throughout her time as part of the Redskins’ squad, she cites receiving inspiration from a few key figures in her life as a turning point when faced with making the call to either keep running or leave it behind after high school.
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“I knew I wanted to run track at the collegiate level in 8th grade, because I had just found out that my role model, Sydney McLaughlin, went to the Olympics at 16,” Haught said. “I felt inspired by that. Once I got to high school, I still wasn’t sure of my abilities and whether or not they would take me to the collegiate level. It wasn’t until my junior year that I really began to focus on training for college track.”
“My hurdle coach, Justin Tidd, was a crucial part of shaping me as an athlete, and he gave me the inspiration to even run hurdles in the first place. Being undefeated in the 100 and 300 hurdles during high school made me realize that a college track career was within my reach.”
Like most high school athletes with plans to continue their athletic career at the next level, Haught describes the decision process regarding where to attend school as one that presented challenges. For her, though, after visiting the campus and meeting with the track and field coaching staff, WVU just felt like the right fit.
More importantly, the ability to be surrounded by coaches and teammates who are always seeking to push her to the highest level possible is what has been her driving force during the first two years of her career.
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“My time at WVU has been rewarding so far,” Haught said. “I’ve liked the experience and the atmosphere my team creates is exactly what I was searching for. My coach, Shelly-Ann Gallimore, knows exactly how to coach me, and I’m blessed to have found that so easily.”
Haught also says, despite controversial takes from the talking heads within the media, that the Big 12 Conference is one of the toughest out there. In track and field, the competitions are up there with some of the best in the country, a feat she believes has helped her reach another level in her career.
“The Big 12 Conference meets I’ve attended have been the most memorable for me,” Haught said. “They brought me around competition I’ve never seen before. The athletes at these meets push me to be better and I feel lucky to have been able to go four times.”
Despite finishing the 2024-25 season setting a personal best in hurdles in the conference competitions, Haught said her sophomore year was not always as it appeared to be when on the track. While some athletes struggle with vulnerability and allow setbacks to mess with their game, Haught used the adversity she faced to push herself to become stronger both physically and mentally, which she said she will take with her moving forward into next season.
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“My main event is the 400 meter hurdles, and in practice I had a couple falls,” Haught said. “I also had a couple meets that messed with my mental health. I battled a ton of anxiety during the season, but fought through it because I didn’t want to let it control my sport. Through journaling and sports psychology, I was able to finish out my season strong.”
While it may be a misconception among those unfamiliar with track and field as a sport, athletes who participate in the events don’t stop once the season is over. Like every other sport, an offseason exists, and intense preparation is required to stay physically fit before the upcoming calendar year.
With summer now in full swing, Haught said that for her, the offseason is just as important as the regular season, and ultimately, recovery is necessary in order to be able to regain composure mentally and physically in time for next season.
“Recovery is important to implement because your body goes through so much all season long,” Haught said. “The season lasts from December to May, and we’re training even before that, so there’s a lot of stress put on the body. I’m planning to continue to weight train, while also following the running plan that my coach gives me.”
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As she approaches the beginning of her junior year, Haught said she still has plenty of room to grow both on and off the track. One thing she is choosing to prioritize, though, is maintaining physical and mental toughness in order to continue achieving her personal goals.
“I plan to continue to PR and become stronger mentally and physically,” Haught said. “I want to also get my time under a minute in the 400 meter hurdles. I’m currently at 1:00.67, so I specifically need to work on getting lower when jumping over the hurdles.”
Although she still has two years left as a Mountaineer, Haught’s journey thus far has been nothing short of inspiring.
– Chiney Ogwumike | First Take
