North Carolina State University Athletics
Lawson, Daniel Head to Final Conference Meet
4/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track
Between the two seniors on the Wolfpack women’s track team, there are 14 previous ACC Track & Field Championship appearances. Kayla Lawson and Gabrielle Daniel have each competed in four indoor conference meets and three outdoor heading into this weekend’s 2010 ACC Outdoor Championship in Clemson, S.C. So you would think that it would be just another meet for these two talented student-athletes, right?
If you thought that, you’d be sorely mistaken. As the team boards the bus to Clemson today, Lawson and Daniel might be the most excited ones there. Both of them enter their last conference meet with a sense of anticipation, excitement and dogged determination to perform their very best.
“It feels like just yesterday that I was going to my first ACC meet,” says Lawson, a three-time All-ACC performer in the high jump. “I still get nervous every time, but that can be a good thing.”
“The ACC meet is still very special because our coaches make it special,” says Daniel. “This is when we have to be at our best. This is when we see how much we’re going to get out of the work we’ve put in. It’s just an honor to be able to compete. It’s very important for the program, our team and for myself.”
Lawson will be competing in her signature event, the high jump, at Clemson, while Daniel plans to run the 200, 400, 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. “I really hope I come back with dead legs, because that will mean I’ve advanced.”
Lawson and Daniel both have the added incentive of knowing this is their last ACC meet. “I always want to do well, but since this is my last one, I feel even more driven,” says Lawson. “I have had some success in conference, but I haven’t accomplished everything I want to accomplish. I really would love to get the gold medal. I’ve gotten second and third, but that title is something I really want.”
Daniel says that although she hasn’t gotten to the medal stand yet, the ACC Championships offer other opportunities than individual recognition. “At the conference meet, you can still contribute to the success of the team without getting individual honors,” she says. “I haven’t gotten to the point of medalling, but last year I was a member of the 4x100 that scored so that was nice. I also ran my best-ever time in the 200 meters at last year’s outdoor meet.”
Lawson and Daniel have both contributed to the fortunes of the Wolfpack team throughout their career, but neither really expected to be in the roles they’re playing now since they both joined the team as walk-ons. Both of them came to NC State because of academics and competed with the track and field squads simply because of their love of the sport.
Their hard work, however, paid off, as both were awarded scholarships following their sophomore campaigns. “I never really expected to go from walk-on to leader,” says Lawson, “but I’ve always been a hard worker and I guess that paid off.”
“I came to NC State because the academics were wonderful,” says Daniel, a member of the All-ACC Academic team. “It’s hard work balancing athletics and academics, but it’s worth it.”
Both young women will graduate next month. Lawson, a biology major, plans to attend PA school this fall. Daniel, who will graduate with a degree in nutrition science, has already been accepted to graduate school at Cornell and is hoping to attend medical school at Howard.
Although the distant future is a bright one for both Wolfpack seniors, their minds are fully focussed on the immediate present and helping NC State at their last ACC championship appearance. “I would definitely like to finish on a high note,” said Daniel, “for my team more than for myself.”
