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2026 Women's Track and Field Roster

Emily Gaines

  • Position distance
  • Height 5-3
  • Class Junior
  • Major Nursing
  • Highschool Wade Hampton HS
  • Hometown Taylors, SC
  • Instagram emily.gaines0

Biography

FMU:  Returning letterwinner at FMU....Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team (T&F) 2025....A product of a family of runners....Also a member of the cross country program (2023, 2024, 2025)....Comes from a solid prep program....An experienced runner that will arrive on campus well prepared for collegiate competition.....A good student in the classroom....Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team (XC) 2024....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2023 (fall), 2024 (spring, fall)....Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll 2023 (fall), 2024 (fall).

PERSONAL:
  • Born in Greenville, SC
  • Graduate of Wade Hampton High School, where she ran under the direction of coach Rick Zeller
  • Placed 25th at the Region 2-AAAA championship meet in 2022
  • Served as team captain for the Generals’ squad
  • Owns personal best times of 21:59 for 5K; 6:34 for 1600m; and 2:58 for 800m
  • 5-year letterwinner in both cross country and track
  • Named the program’s most improved runner in 2019
  • Nicknames are Em, Emmy, and Emmy Anne
PERSONAL FAVORITES:
  • As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up:  Teacher
  • How you got your nickname: My parents have just called me this for as long as I can remember and some of my close friends do too (Emmy Anne is only my dad's nickname for me)
  • Favorite Fictional Character: Lightning McQueen 
  • Favorite Athlete: Sydney McLaughlin
  • Favorite Sports Team: Clemson University Tigers
  • Favorite Movie or TV Show:  Top Gun (the original)
  • Favorite Food:  Steak
  • Favorite Vacation Spot:  Any beach
  • Favorite Musical Artist:  Morgan Wallen
  • Favorite Thing About FMU:  The small campus and small class sizes
  • Favorite Off-Course Activities:  Shopping, fishing, sleeping
  • Goals for Upcoming Season:  Set a new PR in the 5k and 6k and help lead the new runners in a positive way
  • Why you first choose your sport:  My brother and dad did it and I wanted to beat them, so I decided to train and get better
  • Biggest mental challenge in your sport:  Pushing through the times when I'm lacking motivation

Historical Player Information

  • 2024Freshman

  • 2025Sophomore

    distance
    5'4"
  • 2026Junior

    distance
    5'3"