By John "Woods" Armwood III
A Journey Built on Perseverance
For Hampton track star Arriah Gilmer, every race represents far more than a result on the scoreboard. Her journey has been built on patience, resilience, and earning every opportunity.
After competing as an alternate last season due to a teammate’s injury, Gilmer returned this year in a completely different role: the permanent anchor leg.
“Last year I came here, I was a second pick,” Gilmer explained. “This year, being that permanent anchor leg, it was perseverance for me. I worked my butt off and now I’m on the spot.”
Even after a race that did not fully meet her expectations, Gilmer remained optimistic.
“God’s plan is always God’s plan,” she said. “We’re going to be back and better.”
Running for Hampton, Not Herself
For Gilmer, competing at Hampton carries a deeper responsibility. Every race is about representing the people who continue supporting the program through every obstacle.
“It’s for the coaches. It’s for the alumni. It’s for the newcomers,” Gilmer said. “It’s really for Hampton. It’s not even for us.”
That support means even more considering the sacrifices HBCU programs often make just to compete on major stages. While larger schools travel comfortably, Hampton athletes endure long bus rides and limited resources.
“You don’t see small schools like this who have to take a bus and can’t fly,” she explained. “We’re taking about a seven-hour trip to get here. So it just makes you want to run.”
The energy from alumni and supporters fuels her competitive fire every time she steps on the track.
Hampton’s Culture Built Her Confidence
Gilmer admitted she did not always arrive at Hampton believing fully in herself. As a walk-on athlete, confidence was something she had to develop over time.
“Hampton gave me confidence,” she said. “It gave me perseverance to work harder. It’s character development. It’s the culture.”
That growth recently paid off in a major way. After chasing a personal goal for years, Gilmer finally hit the 400-meter time she had been striving for since high school.
“It took me three years, but it came,” she said. “Now we can keep pressing the gas.”
Breaking the Stigma Around HBCUs
Gilmer also pushed back against the stigma that HBCUs cannot compete with Power Five schools.
“We do the same training,” she said. “We eat the same food. We sleep the same time.”
Her belief is simple: talent exists everywhere, including HBCUs.
“They don’t think the Hamptons, the Howards, the NCATs can come to stuff like this,” Gilmer said. “But no, we really are the show.”
Through perseverance, confidence, and pride, Arriah Gilmer is helping prove that HBCU athletes belong on every major stage in collegiate track and field.
