Taylor’s Journey
My professional career has just begun..
Sharing honest stories and lessons learned along the leap.
Early Career
John Handley High School
2015 – 2019
I had an extraordinary high school track and field career at John Handley High School in Winchester, Virginia, establishing myself as one of the most accomplished athletes in school history. Specializing in the jumps, I dominated Virginia competition throughout my career, earning nine VHSL state championships. My senior season was particularly memorable, as I captured three individual state titles in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump, showcasing versatility and athletic range. I made history by becoming the first high school girl in Virginia to clear over six feet in the high jump, setting a state record at 6 feet, ½ inch and breaking a mark that had stood for more than four decades. My performance also placed me among the top high school high jumpers in the nation at the time.
College Career
2019-2024
I continued my track and field career at the University of Cincinnati, where I developed into one of the program’s top high jumpers. During my time there, I won multiple conference titles and set both school and American Athletic Conference records in the high jump, including a personal best clearance of 6 feet 2 inches indoors. I earned multiple All-America honors, highlighted by a First Team All-America finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where I placed eighth nationally. My collegiate career at Cincinnati was shaped by resilience, including returning from a season-ending injury to reclaim conference championships and compete again at the national level. I also qualified for NCAA Championship meets multiple times and had the opportunity to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials while still in college. Alongside my athletic achievements, I prioritized academics and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work.
After completing my undergraduate career, I transferred to the University of Illinois to continue competing as a graduate student. While representing the Fighting Illini, I remained a consistent contributor in the high jump, competing at Big Ten and high-level invitational meets and posting one of the team’s top marks during the season. My time at Illinois allowed me to gain experience in a new conference, continue competing at an elite collegiate level, and balance athletics with graduate studies, bringing my collegiate track and field career to a strong close.