Gophers hurdler Dyandra Gray, from Jamaica, keeps trimming time ahead of NCAA meet

Growing up in the track and field mecca of Jamaica, Dyandra Gray didn’t consider herself a runner. But she discovered a natural gift for hurdling in high school.

That talent led Gray to compete among Jamaica’s elite hurdlers. It presented Gray with a life-altering decision in 2020: Stay in her native country for another year or attend college in the United States.

“The process was really scary because you’re moving to a different country,” Gray said. “COVID hit, and there were no visits, so we were just talking over the phone. But I think that was the best decision I ever made.”

More than five years after arriving in the U.S., Gray will conclude her college career at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Wednesday. With five personal bests set since just April 30, Gray will represent the Gophers in the 400-meter hurdles.

“Every failure, everything I’ve ever been through built me,” Gray said. “I know what not to do, the mistakes not to make. I’ve been there, done that. … I’ve been down before, but coming up is amazing.”

Nearly 400 miles south of the Twin Cities, Gray began her collegiate track and field career at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. One of her older high school teammates ran for Iowa Western and connected Gray with the coaching staff. Gray quickly hit it off with then-assistant coach Shellene Williams — a fellow Jamaica native.

Doug Marshall, former Iowa Western track and field coach, said Gray seldom said a word when she first arrived on campus. But her competitive fire was undeniable.

Gray said she soon fell in love with her new home in the Midwest. With a large Caribbean contingent, Gray said her team was a true family. After she helped Iowa Western secure back-to-back NJCAA indoor track titles in 2021 and 2022, Gray reached her next step.

Matt Bingle, the Gophers director of track and field and cross country, saw immense versatility and potential in Gray. He made Gray’s recruitment a priority ahead of the 2023 season.

“We were in a win-now mode,” Bingle said. “We were looking for somebody who was experienced, more mature and could come in and have an impact right away.”

Gray’s tenure in Dinkytown commenced as a sprint hurdler. She also competed in the 4x400-meter relay. Just as she’d done in her early days at Iowa Western, Gray remained reserved as she looked to carve out a consistent role with her new program.

“My first year was really tough,” Gray said. “Navigating everything was hard, the training was hard. I had a new coach, so it was hard to connect.”

Her tweaks paid immediate dividends, with Gray shaving her 400-meter hurdle personal best down to 56.86 seconds at the NCAA West Regionals. At last season’s Big Ten Championships, for comparison, Gray clocked a 59.53 in the event.

“I wish I was out of my body and just watching the race [instead of] running because it’s so nerve-racking,” Gray said. “I just gotta run. No matter who’s in my race, I just gotta go and trust myself. My nerves help me [with that].”

While Gray will soon reach a stage every college athlete dreams of, she said she wishes she could bring her mother along with her. Still, Gray knows her “biggest cheerleader” will make herself heard all the way from Manchester, Jamaica.

“My mom is my hero,” Gray said. “She has sacrificed so much since I started doing track. My first pair of spikes, she bought them. The first time I got hurt, she brought me to every doctor’s appointment. If you look in every Gophers comment section [on social media], she’s right there cheering me on.”

For Gray, once a young girl in track-crazed Jamaica who thought she couldn’t run, all that’s left in a storied college career is one final event to make her mark.

• The Gophers’ Greek hammer throwers Angelos Mantzouranis and Kostas Zaltos are both national title contenders this week. Mantzouranis won the NCAA West Regional with a 76.1-meter throw, while Zaltos finished second at 75.63 meters.

• Two-time Big Ten long jump champion Charles Godfred earned a bid to the NCAA Championships with the No. 2 long jump mark in West Regional history.

• The men’s 4x100-meter relay team of Zion Campbell, Kion Benjamin, Aaron Charles and Devin Augustine will be the second-ever Gophers 4x100-meter relay team to compete at the NCAA Championships.