FEATURE: Davidson Turns Injury Into Motivation, Prepares for NCAA East Preliminary Championships

When graduate student Skyla Davidson broke her ankle in January 2022, Davidson didn't know if she would ever put on a JMU uniform again. Instead of dwelling on what could have been the end of her career, Davidson decided to "turn that into motivation and determination and use it as fuel" in her rehab process.

During her rehab process, Davidson dealt with all of her emotions through journaling. By writing her emotions down, Davidson was able to reevaluate why she felt the way she did and make sense of everything going on in her head. Even now, over a year past her ankle injury, Davidson has continued to journal when things get tough as a coping mechanism.

"When you start to feel down on yourself sometimes you think that it's a setback, which I think is very false," Davidson said. "Feeling those feelings is a chance for you to turn them into something more positive. You can grow and learn from them."

Head Track & Field Coach Ron McCown, Davidson's coach of five years, has always admired her team mentality and ability to "persevere through her challenges and regroup and focus" on her goals. During her rehab, McCown never felt that Davidson gave up on her track career.

"It would have been really easy to say, 'it's going to be hard to come back from this, I don't know if I can do this,' but I never got that from her," McCown said. "I always felt that she was determined to get back. Even jumping with an ankle brace she still jumped very well."

Davidson's love for track aided her during her rehab process and kept a positive mindset during difficult situations.

"When I realized that I could come back from this injury, the love of the sport was going to help me with the rehab," Davidson said. "I kept trying to flip my negative thoughts and think about one thing I could be excited about whether that's 'I get to jump today' or 'I get to see my teammates today' or 'I get to get better today.' Just flipping that little switch and making a negative day turn into a positive one."

When Davidson got the opportunity to return to JMU for her sixth season, she used her injury as motivation. In her first meet back, Davidson recorded a personal best in the outdoor long jump at 5.71 meters (18' - 9") during the Liberty Twilight Qualifier.

"In my head, I wondered if I could have a personal best last year coming off of the ankle break, what else can I do if I really focused on keeping my bones and my body healthy," Davidson said.

This fueled Davidson's mindset of "keep pushing, keep chasing your goals" so she could prove to herself that she was not done as a runner.

On April 15, Davidson did just that.

At the JMU Invite, Davidson's final event on her home track, she jumped 12.86 meters (42' - 2.25") in the outdoor triple jump. In doing so, Davdison reached one of the goals she set for herself a long time ago. McCown even referred to the personal best as Davidson's "turning point" when she realized she could "accomplish anything she puts her mind to."

"It's one of the goals that I have written down on my whiteboard in my room that I see every single day," Davidson said. "I had to tell myself that this is real, I did it and it's happening. It was just amazing, especially with my teammates right there and to have it on our home track was a memory that I will never forget."

With her jump at the April meet, Davidson qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Championships which will take place between May 24-27 in Jacksonville, Fla. Throughout her track career, Davidson has been motivated by her teammates to get to where she is today.

"The most rewarding part of the sport has been getting to meet all these wonderful ladies and becoming family and always having them by my side no matter what is going on. I know I have these people in my corner and I can turn to them with anything and everything and there are no judgments," Davidson said.

Moving forward, Davidson is not ready to give up track just yet. Although she is not yet sure what her exact plans are, she has considered training for the Commonwealth or Olympic Games in New Zealand. As a citizen of New Zealand, competing for her home country and being close to her family would be a "dream come true."

This year, Davidson was selected as a team captain due to her "phenomenal leadership, ability to connect with people and kindness and compassion," according to Quarles. Although this season will be Davidson's last with JMU, McCown and the team will feel her impact for many years.

"This team is going to be talking about Skyla Davidson for a while," McCown said. "Her personality is so positive and pleasant, and the team thrived off of her positive attitude. She will definitely not be forgotten because she is someone that has made an impact that's going to last for a while."

Delethea Quarles, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, first got to know Davidson last fall during their one-on-one meeting. Although Quarles has only been with the program for one season, she has seen Davidson's impact on her team and the JMU culture.

"Skyla is the voice between the coaching staff and other athletes. She helps everybody with where they are and is a very mature learner," Quarles said. "She is an example that you can get through things, use the resources that are available at the university and still come out victorious."

Despite the fact that Davidson may return home to compete in the future, JMU track has had a lasting impact on her as well.

"My time at JMU, as a student-athlete has been one that I will never forget. I have learned the best lessons over my time here. Whether it was positive or negative, there's always something to learn from it," Davidson said. "I'm so grateful for the opportunities, not only athletics, but everything this university has given me."

As Davidson said, "Once a Duke, always a Duke."

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