Completed Event: Cross Country at Spider Alumni Open on August 30, 2025 , , 5th of 14
XC
Final
James Madison
at Spider Alumni Open
5th of 14
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
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Alayna Gifford
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Sykesville, Md.
- High School:
- Century
- Major:
- Biotechnology
TFRRS
Personal Records:
Outdoor Track & Field
2:13.66 in the 800m (Kehoe Twilight Meet, 5/1/26)
4:44.46 in the 1,500m (Bob Davidson Team Challenge, 3/20-3/21/26)
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Indoor Track & Field
1:40.53 in the 600m (Penn State National Open, 1/30-1/31/26)
2:13.86 in the 800m (Sykes & Sabock Challenge, 2/8/25)
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Cross Country
15:06.7 in the 4K (Spider Alumni Open, 8/30/25)
19:35.0 in the 5K (Sun Belt Championship, 11/1/24)
23:12.9 in the 6K (Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, 11/15/24)
2025-26:
Indoor Track & Field
2024-25:
Outdoor Track & Field
2023-24:
Outdoor Track & Field
High School:
Personal:
Personal Records:
Outdoor Track & Field
2:13.66 in the 800m (Kehoe Twilight Meet, 5/1/26)
4:44.46 in the 1,500m (Bob Davidson Team Challenge, 3/20-3/21/26)
---
Indoor Track & Field
1:40.53 in the 600m (Penn State National Open, 1/30-1/31/26)
2:13.86 in the 800m (Sykes & Sabock Challenge, 2/8/25)
---
Cross Country
15:06.7 in the 4K (Spider Alumni Open, 8/30/25)
19:35.0 in the 5K (Sun Belt Championship, 11/1/24)
23:12.9 in the 6K (Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, 11/15/24)
2025-26:
Indoor Track & Field
- Competed in four meets
- Helped the Dukes finish eighth in the 4x800-meter relay in 9:16.88 at the ECAC Championship (2/7-2/8)
- Ran the third leg for the distance medley relay team that placed fifth in 11:57.78 at the Sun Belt Championship (2/23-2/24)
- Competed in three meets
- Finished 10th at the JMU Invitational 5K in 20:04.4 (9/26)
- JMU Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete (Fall 2025)
2024-25:
Outdoor Track & Field
- Competed in two meets
- Finished 10th in the 800-meter prelims in 2:15.14 at the Sun Belt Championship (5/8-5/10)
- Competed in six meets
- Ran the opening leg for the winning distance medley relay team with a time of 11:51.97 at the ECAC Championship (3/7-3/9)
- Helped the Dukes finish fourth in the distance medley relay in 11:49.93 at the Sun Belt Championship (2/24-2/25)
- Produced a career-best time of 2:13.86 in the 800 meters at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge (2/8)
- Competed in four meets
- Ran a personal-best 4K of 15:17.5 at the Spider Alumni Open (8/31)
- 2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List
- President's List (Spring 2025)
- JMU Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
2023-24:
Outdoor Track & Field
- Competed in seven meets
- Ran a personal-best time of 1:01.10 in the 400-meter dash for sixth at the Bob Hayes Invite (3/15-3/15)
- Registered a PR of 4:50.57 in the 1,500 meters at the VertKlasse Meeting (4/5-4/6)
- Finished second in the 800-meter competition in 2:18.11 at the JMU Invite (4/13)
- Recorded a career-best 800-meter time of 2:15.61 at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships (5/9-5/11)
- Competed in four meets
- Finished third in 800-meter race at the Oceanfront Invitational (1/19-1/20) with a time of 2:25.30
- Competed in two meets
- Made collegiate debut at the Spider Alumni Open 4K (9/2)
- Dean's List (Fall 2023)
- JMU Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2024)
- 2023-24 Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll
High School:
- 2023 Maryland Indoor 800m track & field state champion
- 2023 Maryland Indoor 4x800-meter relay track & field state champion
- Third place in 500m at Maryland indoor track & field state meet as a senior
- Second place in 4x800-meter relay at Maryland outdoor state meet in 2023
- Indoor and outdoor 800m high school school records
- Member of state championship soccer team
- Named second team all-county as a junior and senior
Personal:
- Daughter of Heather and Andrew Gifford
- Has one brother, Max, and one sister, Jocelyn
JMU Cross Country | UVA Invitational Hype
Thursday, October 26
Sentara Park | Duenkel Athletic Complex
Saturday, March 11
JMU Cross Country | CAA Tournament Hype
Monday, March 21
JMU Cross Country | Facility Tour
Monday, February 01
