When you think of William and Mary, you probably think of brick buildings, Thomas Jefferson, and maybe some really intense late-night study sessions in Swem Library. You don't necessarily think of someone launching a javelin across a football field or a 4x400 relay team shattering a school record in the dead of winter.
But honestly? That’s exactly what’s happening.
William and Mary track and field is one of those programs that flies under the radar for most casual sports fans, yet it consistently produces some of the most disciplined athletes in the country. We aren't just talking about "good for a smart school." We’re talking about athletes who are winning CAA championships and qualifying for the NCAA East First Round while maintaining GPAs that would make a Rhodes Scholar sweat. It's a weird, impressive balance.
The "Smart Athlete" Paradox
There’s this annoying myth that you can’t have elite athletics and elite academics at the same time. The Tribe basically exists to prove that wrong. In the 2024-25 academic year, the track and field programs were a huge reason why the entire athletic department hit a 3.45 GPA. The women’s cross country and track teams actually led the way with 33 Provost Award winners—those are students keeping a 3.5 or higher.
It’s not just about hitting the books, though.
If you look at the recent results from the 2025 CAA Indoor Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Complex, the performance was pretty wild. The men’s team grabbed gold in the distance medley relay. Jonathan Kumer absolutely smoked the 800m, shaving three seconds off his prelim time to hit 1:49.88. That isn't just a win; it’s the eighth-fastest time in the history of the school.
Why the Colonial Relays Still Matter
You’ve probably heard of the Penn Relays, but for folks in the Mid-Atlantic, the Colonial Relays are the real deal. Hosted right there at Zable Stadium, this meet has been a staple since the 60s. It’s one of the largest scored track meets on the East Coast.
Zable Stadium is a trip. It was originally Cary Field, renamed for Walter J. Zable who—get this—was a standout in track, baseball, and football back in the 30s. Walking into that stadium for a spring meet feels different than a modern, sterile Olympic complex. You’ve got the historic stone walls, the proximity to the sunken garden, and usually a pretty stiff breeze coming off the James River.
People think track is a lonely sport. It’s not. At the Colonial Relays, you see the "Tribe" identity in full force. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s one of the few times the whole Williamsburg community actually realizes there’s a world-class track team in their backyard.
Breaking Down the Recent Power Shifts
For a long time, William and Mary was "the distance school." And yeah, they still are—look at Hayes Trapp clocking a 13:59.62 in the 5000m recently. That’s moving.
But things are shifting under Director Alex Heacock. He’s an alum (Class of '09) who won a CAA javelin title himself, so he knows the culture. Lately, the "field" part of track and field has been catching up to the "track" side.
- The Vault: Elizabeth Strobach and Olesya Sitkowski went 1-2 in the pole vault at the 2025 indoors.
- The Sprints: Emily Ervin set a school record in the 400m (54.76).
- The Power: The men's 4x400m team (Robinson, Seekford, Rice, and Bestic) ran a 3:12.40.
That 4x400 time is a school record. It's significant because it shows the program is diversifying. They aren't just grinding out 10k runners anymore; they're finding explosive speed.
The Coaching Factor
You can't talk about William and Mary track and field without mentioning the stability in the coaching staff. Forest Braden handles the head coaching duties with a heavy focus on the distance crew, which makes sense given the school's historical dominance in cross country.
But look at the specialists. You've got Steve Belanger working the sprints and hurdles, and Tommy Barrineau handling the jumps and multis. Brian Walsh, a multi-eventer, scored 5,120 points in the heptathlon to take second at the CAAs recently. That kind of performance doesn't happen without specific, high-level technical coaching.
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The program operates on a "no excuses" philosophy. The facilities are good—the new Mackesy Sports Performance Center has been a game-changer for recovery—but it’s still Williamsburg. It’s humid. The hills are brutal. If you can train here, you can race anywhere.
What Most People Miss
The graduation success rate (GSR) for this program is 100%. Literally every single person on the women's team for the latest cohort graduated.
That sounds like a "boring" stat until you realize what it means for recruiting. When a coach sits in a living room and talks to a high school senior, they aren't just promising a faster 1500m time. They’re promising a path to places like Deloitte, Accenture, or medical school.
It’s a specific kind of athlete who chooses William and Mary. You have to be okay with riding a bus back from a meet at 2:00 AM and then waking up for an 8:00 AM Organic Chemistry lab.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Recruits
If you're actually interested in the program—whether as a fan, a potential recruit, or an alum looking to reconnect—here is how you actually engage with the Tribe.
1. Watch the TFRRS feed. Don't wait for the local news to report scores. If you want to see how the team is actually doing, you check the Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). It's the "raw data" of the sport. You can see every split and every jump in real-time.
2. Show up for the Dan Stimson Memorial.
It’s usually in March. It’s smaller than the Colonial Relays, but it’s more intimate. You can literally stand five feet away from the shot put ring and feel the ground shake when a 16-pound ball hits the dirt. It’s the best way to see the technical side of the sport.
3. Understand the CAA Landscape.
The CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) has changed a lot. With teams like Campbell, Monmouth, and North Carolina A&T in the mix now, the competition in the sprints has skyrocketed. Don't expect the Tribe to sweep every event; the league is faster than it’s ever been.
4. Follow the "One Network."
For alumni, the school has launched the "One Network." It’s basically a private LinkedIn for the Tribe. If you were a hurdler in the 90s, this is where you find the people who can help you hire the next generation of hurdlers.
William and Mary track and field isn't a "glamour" program in the way a big SEC school might be. There are no 50,000-seat indoor tracks or multi-million dollar NIL deals for every sprinter. But there’s a grit there. Whether it’s Brian Hyde’s Olympic legacy or a freshman setting a personal best in the pouring rain at Zable, the program continues to punch way above its weight class.
The next time you see a group of runners heading down Richmond Road at 6:00 AM, just know—they aren't just jogging. They’re likely some of the best athletes in the conference, and they’ve probably already finished their homework.