Halterman Named TU’s Female Athlete of the Year
UPLAND, Ind. – Jaynie Halterman was honored Tuesday as Taylor's Female Athlete of the Year, after claiming four individual NAIA National Championships during her historic freshman season with the TU cross country and track programs.
"In all my years of coaching, I have never seen an athlete go undefeated and win four national titles in one year," remarked TU women's cross country head coach Quinn White. "Jaynie's accomplishments are so special, yet her humility, team-focus, and her perspective are just as special. Jaynie uses her talent with joy and she loves challenges. She is patient and strategic. Most importantly, Jaynie honors the Lord as she uses the gifts she has been given."
Halterman helped the Taylor cross country and track program secure a second-place team finish at NAIA Nationals in cross country, while taking fifth in indoor track and sixth in outdoor track. Those team finishes led to TU being named the USTFCCCA NAIA Program of the Year for the first time in school history. Prior to the success at those National Championships, Halterman led Taylor to its 12th-straight Crossroads League Cross Country Championship.
Halterman completed her rookie season by finishing first in every finals race she competed in, which resulted in her winning NAIA National Championships in cross country, the indoor 5,000-meters and the outdoor 5,000-meters and 10,000-meters. Along the way, Halterman set six new Taylor school records, four Crossroads League Championship records and two NAIA National Championship records, while also winning four individual CL Championships.
Those record-setting performances led to a pile of accolades for Halterman, who was named the NAIA National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA NAIA Cross Country National Runner of the Year and the USTFCCCA NAIA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Additionally, Halterman was a three time USTFCCCA NAIA Runner of the Week, a two-time NAIA Runner of the Week and a seven-time Crossroads League Athlete of the Week.
The Taylor Female Athlete of the Year Award is designed to recognize TU's top female student-athlete among freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors based on athletic accomplishments throughout the 2024-2025 year. Athletes are nominated for the award by their head coach and voted on by members of the TU Athletics Department.