I started playing sports when I was just a toddler.
My parents put me in every sport you can think of - I played basketball, volleyball, soccer, and flag football. I was a really good gymnast, and I remember always being one of the fastest kids in school when we would race each other at recess.
Being an athlete was always a dream of mine.
But as a kid, I didn’t know where athletics could take me. I had no idea that being involved in sports could go beyond just being an athlete.
I was just a kid who enjoyed being competitive, after all.
Eventually, I took my talents to the track and became a long and triple jumper. I’m living my dream of being an athlete and, although I’m not done yet, I’m fascinated by the idea of working in the sports business.
Through my studies, I dove head-first into learning the logistics of the sports industry.
I’ve spent the last six months carving out a name for myself and building my personal brand and have met some incredible people along the way.
I aspire to help grow the game for women and give back to the communities that developed me into who I am today.
Humble beginnings
I was born and raised in Toronto, which makes me a proud Canadian.
Growing up in Canada, people didn’t really talk as much about playing a sport in college, never mind going to a Division I school.
The collegiate recruitment conversation is much different here than in the States.
I honestly didn’t even know what a future in track and field could look like at the time.
When I jumped my PR of 5.77m in grade 11, that’s when I started learning about the recruiting process and hearing from both Canadian and U.S. schools with offers to be part of their collegiate teams.
Let me be clear: I was definitely not some hotshot prospect coming out of high school.
Although my resume featured being the number one long jumper in Canada for U-18 girls, and the U-18 National Champion in the long jump that year, my marks did not compare to the top jumpers being recruited here in the United States.
I only heard from about four or five schools in the U.S., and I went on three visits to schools in Canada.
I knew that ultimately I wanted to leave my hometown and challenge myself to compete among the best in the NCAA.
College in the U.S. is just a completely different experience, and I wanted to be in the most competitive environment possible.
I ended up choosing Central Michigan University for undergrad, and it was the best decision I could have made for myself.
I never would have imagined myself thriving in a small college town, especially after growing up in the city.
But those were some of the best years of my life, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world.
When it was time to transition into the graduate recruiting process, it was crazy how many schools were interested in me compared to high school.
I packed up my life and took my spikes to Florida and signed with UCF.
I really wanted to compete in a Power 5 conference during my grad year, and I got to UCF just in time to be able to do that in the Big 12.
Plus, as you can probably imagine, I’m a Canadian who is used to the cold all year, so I feel spoiled to be able to train in the warm Florida weather.
My biggest hurdle
It was December 1st, 2023 – the start of my final season of competition in the NCAA.
I was in the best shape of my life, feeling ready to end my college career on a high note.
It was a mid-intersquad meet, about to start my fifth-round jump.
Step.
Step.
Pop.
That awful sound that everyone recognizes.
I knew instantly that I had ruptured my left achilles.
And just like that, my season was over.
I was angry, frustrated, and confused.
But the more I reflect on my injury, the more I understand how it’s been a blessing in disguise.
My body literally said, ‘enough is enough,” and forced me to take a step back and think about what would come next.
My injury truly helped me swallow the hard pill that is realizing that there’s more to life than track.
Having the time off from training and competing gave me opportunities to explore other areas of my life and future career pathways.
I’ve always known that I wanted to continue to be involved in the sports world in some way, shape, or form after my athletic career ends.
Working towards both an MBA and Master of Sports Business Management is what has spearheaded that journey.
I’ve jumped on every opportunity that’s come my way - no pun intended.
I’m attending conferences, networking with individuals who I am inspired by, and just adopting this growth mindset where I am constantly open to expanding my knowledge. I never get tired of meeting new people and learning from their experiences.
Social media has also played a huge role in my sports business ventures and has served as an outlet from my injury.
Once I realized how social media could be leveraged to support both my professional and personal goals, I was all in.
I always knew that I wanted to start building a presence online, but I never really had time to sit down and set some goals for what I hoped that would look like.
When I was fresh out of surgery, all I had was time – and I used that period to figure out how I was going to create a community on my social media channels. Although I’m still learning how to use each platform to share my story so it can reach and inspire new audiences, I’m proud of what I’ve built on both Instagram and TikTok so far.
My most recent venture has been crafting my YouTube channel, which I am super excited about.
Each aspect of building my personal brand has offered a healthy distraction from what I’d be ‘normally’ doing: jumping. It also reminded me that I’m a creative, kind and valuable human outside of my athletic career.
What's next
When I consider my plans for the future, I like to think back to where it all started.
I’ve always had it in my heart that I would be an Olympian representing Team Canada one day, and I’m excited about the opportunity to achieve that dream in the sport I love.
My sights are set on the 2028 LA Olympic Games, and I can’t wait to continue improving and working towards that goal over the next few years.
I also aspire to work in the front office of a women’s sports team one day to help grow the game for women. With Toronto recently announcing a WNBA expansion team, there could be some great opportunities to explore there.
I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities that I’ve had to compete as a student-athlete over the past few years.
When the time comes to retire my spikes, I’ll be ready to set and reach new goals off the track.
To stay updated on my track and field journey, you can follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok at @hayley.manners. You can also find my latest content on my YouTube channel, and learn more about me and my story on my personal website at https://hayleymanners.com.
