LA CROSSE, Wis. - Kimona Haynes is headed to the national final.

The Belhaven senior punched her spot into Saturday's NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships women's 400m final after turning in an eighth-place finish in Friday's preliminary round at Veterans Memorial Field.

Haynes crossed the line in 55.40 to finish second in her heat and secure one of the qualifying spots for Saturday's championship race. She finished just ahead of Case Western's Gianna Phipps, who clocked a 55.43 in the same heat.

Haynes entered the national championships with one of the top 400m times in Division III this season after running a personal-best 54.80 at the CCS Championships last month.

That mark earned Haynes the 2026 CCS title in the event and currently stands as the top 400m time in conference history this season. Earlier this spring, she also posted a 55.06 at the Belhaven Invitational and a 55.21 at the Belhaven Mid Week Challenge as part of a consistent outdoor campaign.

Haynes has been one of the top sprinters in the South Region throughout the season, also qualifying nationally in the 200m after posting a school-record and CCS-leading 24.26 at the Belhaven Invitational earlier this spring.

The senior was named the 2026 CCS Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season after leading the conference in the 100m, 200m and 400m during the outdoor season. She also leaves the conference as the CCS all-time leader in career First Team All-Conference selections with nine and total all-conference honors with 15.

Haynes will compete in the women's 400m national final on Saturday at 2:10 p.m. looking to close her illustrious collegiate career on the podium.

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