NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's track and field team has elected rising senior
Makayla White (Cleveland, Ohio) as captain for the 2025-2026 indoor and outdoor seasons.
In her first two seasons on the team, White primarily competed in the 60m, 100m and 200m sprint events. This past indoor season, she made her pentathlon debut at the UConn Husky Challenge, finishing seventh overall. She followed that with another seventh-place finish in the heptathlon at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships – setting a new Yale school record with 4,772 points.
White's impact goes well beyond her athletic success. She was recently honored with Yale's Stroube Family Award, given annually to a member of the women's track and field team who best exemplifies sportsmanship, courage and inspiration. A team player through and through, White stepped into the demanding world of multi-events when the team needed it most. Competing in five and seven events as a pentathlete and heptathlete, she embraced each new challenge with humility and determination. Her adaptability and drive have made her a leader in every sense.
White succeeds outgoing captain
Dominique Romain '25. Romain reflected on her experience leading the Bulldogs.
"It's been such an honor to serve as captain this year," said Romain. "I'm incredibly proud of this team – not only for the records we've broken and the PRs we've achieved, but also for the way we've upheld and built on our culture of community. Despite big changes, we continued to grow and support each other on and off the track. I've learned so much from my teammates and am so grateful they trusted me to lead."
Romain also expressed her excitement for what's ahead under White's leadership.
"I am so excited to see how Makayla will continue on and bring new traditions to our team," said Romain. "She exemplifies all the qualities a captain should have: determination, kindness and the ability to uplift others. I know she will do well, and I'm eager to see how the team evolves and thrives under her leadership."
Looking back on the season, White pointed to an encouraging amount of progress.
"Last season marked a significant turning point for our women's team, with major strides in our final league standings," said White. "I attribute much of this progress to the incredible leadership of our new coaching staff and the dedication of our previous captains, who played a key role in elevating the culture and expectations within Yale Track and Field."
White added, "It's been incredibly inspiring to witness our growth, especially with the depth of young talent that promises to carry this momentum forward. I'm truly honored to have been elected by my teammates to serve as a captain for the upcoming year. My goal is to continue raising the standard, support my teammates in every way possible, and enjoy every step of the journey together. I'm excited for what's ahead and can't wait for an amazing year."
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a graduate of Hawken School, White steps into her new role ready to lead with energy, heart and unwavering commitment to her team.
