The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

SMUs Tyreek Smith dunks as the Mustangs run up the scoreboard against Memphis in Moody Coliseum.
SMU finds new head coach for men’s basketball
Brian Richardson, Contributor • March 28, 2024
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SMU track and field’s Ayla Gill isn’t slowing down

Blond hair, blue eyes and a big, bright smile; from her initial appearance, many would say Ayla Gill is your typical college kid, but in reality she is much more.

Her shy and sweet demeanor is somewhat deceiving, because behind that smiling face rests a fierce and determined attitude.

Gill, a senior, has had an impressive career at SMU ­­- she has numerous conference-wide awards and first-place finishes under her belt, but she’s only getting started.

This season alone Gill has managed to finish in the top-five in every single meet she has competed in.

She values consistency and “finding her rhythm” as a means of success as an athlete.

Despite her recent victories, Gill, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, is determined to go farther than just competing at the collegiate level.

Throwing at SMU is just the start of what she hopes will be a lifelong career in the sport.

The distance from her home is difficult, but her will to succeed and dedication to her sport is strong.

“It is hard going to school so far from home, but it is an experience of a lifetime and something I personally needed to do to advance in my sport,” she said.

Her goal one day is to compete in the Olympics for her country’s team, and with guidance from her coach, Dave Wollman, the possibility of doing so has become more tangible.

“I’d like to get Ayla to a world championship standard, which is in the neighborhood of 62, 63 meters. She’s more than capable of doing that,” Wollman said.

Gill’s current best throw is 52.79 meters, a toss she made at the TCU Horned Frog Invitational on March 15 this year.

Besides being an athlete, Gill is also a student, and being a student athlete isn’t as glamorous as it is chalked up to be.

Gill’s schedule is definitely demanding as she is majoring in accounting, a difficult degree on its own, let alone being accompanied by hours of training and practice.

Despite the intense schedule, her passion for her sport and desire to achieve her goals motivates her to work hard and be successful in both areas of her life.

“Whatever Ayla does, she does at the highest level,” Wollman said.

Goals are extremely important to Gill, and keeping focused on what she wants to achieve is key. She is constantly critiquing her own performance and focusing on things to improve on for the next meet.

“My goals for the next track meet are to improve on my mark for the year and to improve my technique in competition,” Gill said.

Not only does Gill set short-term goals for herself, but season-long goals as well.

For months, she has been setting her sights on one of the most important meets of the season, the Conference USA Outdoor Championships.

The meet, which will be held in New Orleans May 10 through the 13, sets the precedent for who will continue on to the NCAA Championships.

“To get to nationals you have to do the performance at regionals. You have three throws to make it to finals. It’s definitely a high pressure situation,” Gill said.

Expectations and goals are high for Gill, but she is ready for the challenge.

“Excellence doesn’t have borders. You don’t get to choose to be excellent at what you do in certain phases of your life,” Wollman said.

For Gill, this excellence has only begun. 

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