Written by Dorys Farias
Taylor Gibson is now in her Senior year of Track & Field, and there’s new competition and excitement in the season. Taylor has been waiting for this since the end of her junior year. This season isn’t just about personal records and reaching the podium: it’s about embracing the journey, going above and beyond, and having every moment alongside her sister, Tori.
“Truthfully, it feels amazing,” Taylor says. “I’ve been waiting for it since the end of junior year, and I’m excited about all that I’m going to accomplish.”
Taylor has goals set for herself: she aims to throw 40 meters in the javelin and 11.50 meters in the shot-put events. She’s dedicated countless times to perfecting. Though she specializes in the javelin, there’s a spark about trying something new.
“I’ve always wanted to do the hurdles,” Taylor tells me. “But Coach Williams probably won’t let me because I might get hurt.”
What makes this season even more special is sharing the track with her younger sister, Tori. They may not compete in the same events, but their bond flourishes their competitive spirit and motivates them to push harder.
“Running with my sister has been such a joy for me,” Taylor says. “I love watching her grow step by step, meet by meet. She’s amazing, and I want to be there competing alongside her in all the meets I can.”
Despite their different events, there’s no sibling rivalry — just support on the sidelines and admiration.
“There’s definitely a bond between us because we’re in completely different events. I’ve never had to compete with her, and she’s never competed with me. Plus, even if I wanted to, she’d smoke me in a heartbeat,” Taylor includes.
One of Taylor’s most cherished memories with Tori happened over the summer when Tori took the time to teach her how to hurdle.
“I kept switching legs and getting scared to go over, but she was there with me through it all,” Taylor recalls. “Thanks to her, I didn’t look too bad when I ran the hurdles in an AAU meet.”
Their bond strengthens both on and off the track. When one of them excels, it pushes the other to sister to match the energy — but if one reaches a hurdle, the other is right there to lift them up.
“The way we push each other is by doing our best in our events,” Taylor explains. “When one of us does great, the other wants to do great or better. When one of us falls down, we’ll be there to pick each other up. God knew what He was doing when He gave me a sister — she’s my lifelong best friend.”
After all these sisters’ hard work, Taylor looks forward to watching Tori do a backflip every time they win a meet. It’s moments like this that remind her of the importance of maintaining hard work with joy.
As she looks back on the legacy she hopes to leave behind, Taylor’s message is simple yet powerful: “Try new things.”
“I know trying new things can be scary, but don’t let fear stop you from finding something you’re good at,” Taylor says. “God gave us this life to live, and we would be wasting it if we let fear hold us back. Don’t let a moment of embarrassment stop you from making a lifetime of good memories.”
Looking ahead to a new journey outside of high school, Taylor is caught between two passions — basketball and track — and is keeping her options open.
“I honestly don’t know,” she says. “I’m stuck between basketball and track, so I’m gonna take it one step at a time. I would love to throw in college, but I also love the game of basketball. Whatever God says to do, I’ll do.”
For now, Taylor’s focus is clear: make the most of her Senior season, support her sister every step of the way, and leave a legacy of “trying new things”.
