Gila Ridge student signs with Biola University to run track

Clara Haynes, a Gila Ridge High School distance runner, has signed a letter of intent to run track at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif. next fall.

Haynes has seen great success as a member of the Hawks cross country and track teams the past three seasons.

Haynes was a member of the 2015 State Championship 4x800m relay team in 2015 as well as a winner of multiple Yuma City Championships. The Yuma native established herself as one of the area’s best distance runners, earning Track & Field Athlete of the Year honors from the Yuma Sun/ Rotary in consecutive years.

“It was great getting to know Clara throughout the recruiting process and learning more about what she values in life and how she deals with struggles,” said Biola head coach Sean Hanning. “Clara is extremely gifted and as long as she’s healthy, she will do some great things here at Biola. She has such a positive and uplifting personality, I know she will be a great teammate and addition to our program.”

Haynes set new school records at Gila Ridge in the three-mile, 5k, 3200m and 1600m events while fulfilling her homeschooling academic requirements at Arizona Western College with a 4.0 GPA.

Haynes intends to major in nursing when she in enrolls in fall 2018 and would love to work as a missionary nurse in developing nations.