Tashayla Gilmer began running Track when she was 15 years old and a Freshman at Jesse Bethel High School in Vallejo, Ca.

“My mom put me in every sport there was but I loved track and basketball,” said Gilmer when asked how she became interested in the sport. “I stuck with track because it was more fun.”

Gilmer is competing in her second year for the Vikings Track team. During her first season, Gilmer qualified for the state championship meet in the 4x100m relay. She also became the 8^th fastest runner in the 100m & 200m dash in school history. During the 2018 season, Gilmer has qualified for state in 4x100m relay and 100m dash, the only women to qualify individually.

“I have realized everything is mental,” when asked about her most memorable race over the past two years. “I PR’d in the NorCal Final last week in the 100m dash. I went from 12.5 to 12.1 in one race. I just had to think about what I wanted to do and set my mind to it.”

The time was not the only improvement during her NorCal Final 100m dash race, Gilmer qualified for the state championship meet by beating four women she had never previously beaten during the past two seasons.

While her life on the Track has been spectatular, Gilmer has also faced more tragedy in her life than most people. When asked what quality she has needed most this season, she responded, “perseverance.” 

“I’ve faced personal hardships throughout my journey of being a student athlete at Diablo Valley College. The loss of both of my parents has been the toughest realization of my life but the support system that I have at school in the communities that I am a part of like the track and field team. The Umoja program has helped me persevere through these tragedies to keep wanting a better life for myself. It’s almost felt like literal fight with myself, but I’ve proudly been able to maintain a 3.0 GPA through these obstacles. I have two little brothers and a little sister that I now take care of. I am not just competing for my own success but also theirs. My success will be the stepping stones for theirs. Being their role models means the world to me. Once I accomplish something new, it always feels as if my parents are living through me.”

Gilmer has used her life events to become even more determined to be successful both on the track and in the class room. Her success in the classroom has opened many doors for her to continue her education and finish her Bachelor’s degree. 

Gilmer was a 2018 recipient the Contra Costa Community College District Kennedy King Scholarship, a scholarship that is awarded to students from minority groups under-represented at California’s four-year colleges and universities who have demonstrated academic success at one of the three community colleges in Contra Costa County. She was also awarded the Rossmoor Foundation Scholarship, in which she had to display outstanding academic records, noteworthy extracurricular activities and maintain a 3.0 GPA. The DVC Scholarship Committee also awarded her with the Mike Maramonte Memorial Track Athlete Scholarship. In order for her to receive this scholarship she had to display significant contributions to the DVC Track and Field team, must be transferring to four-year institution and had to maintain a 2.50 GPA, which she exceeded. 

Gilmer plans on studying Criminal Justice at Sacramento State University in the fall.

When asked what her plans are at Sacramento State, she said, “My goal is to become involved with their campus students of color and I want to join a club that is centered around volunteer work for the homeless and supporting homeless causes.” 

When asked what makes Head Track & Field coach, Kyle Whitmore, the type of coach she loves running for she said, “I’ve never had a coach who knew how hard he could push me and knew my limits so well. He cares so much about his athletes to where he learns everyone on the team’s abilities.”

Coach Whitmore also had some kind words to say about Gilmer, “Tashayla is one of those athletes that you will never forget as a coach. She has an infectious smile and a heart of gold. She is the ultimate team player. She came to DVC unsure of herself athletically but sure that she wanted to make a way for herself academically. She sought out learning communities that supported her academically while trying to learn and perfect her track and field craft every day. Tashayla's story is one of heartbreak and tragedy that most people only experience when watching a movie. She is a living example as a student-athlete that no excuse is ever big enough to give up. She and I pieced her season together day by day and on the last race of the last meet she qualified for state in the 100-meter dash. This is one of the most difficult events to conquer without a consistent year of practice for anyone. This type of perseverance and grit will follow her for the rest of her life well beyond track and field which makes me excited for the person she will become after her college endeavors.”

You can watch Tashayla and her fellow Vikings compete at the CCCAA State Championship Meet which will be streamed live HERE Friday and Saturday. 

Tashayla Gilmer's 100m dash to State