BYU Heptathlete Zoey Bonds Overcomes Adversity in Pursuit of NCAA Success

Zoey Bonds, a redshirt junior and heptathlete at BYU, is gearing up for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships next week in Eugene, Oregon, despite facing significant challenges, including illness and foot surgery. Her journey as a competitive athlete has been marked by resilience and a determination to exceed expectations.

Tiffany Lott-Hogan, a former Olympian and current assistant coach at BYU, described Bonds as an athlete who thrives on proving others wrong. "Zoey is one of those athletes that if you tell her she can’t do something, she’s going to prove you wrong," Lott-Hogan remarked, highlighting Bonds' ability to rise to challenges throughout her career.

Last December, Bonds surprised everyone, including Lott-Hogan, by smashing her personal best in the 60-meter hurdles at an indoor meet, clocking a time of 8.20 seconds, which ranks as the third-best in BYU history. This performance came after she was initially told that she was more suited for outdoor events rather than indoor competitions. She then went on to earn a runner-up position at the Big 12 championships and placed 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Bonds credits her relentless drive to her upbringing, where she was motivated by the accomplishments of her three older sisters, all of whom were accomplished athletes. "Our parents have never let us settle in sports. They always would push us and would never let us take a backseat," Bonds shared, emphasizing the hard work and dedication instilled in her from a young age.

As she prepares for the national championships, Bonds aims to achieve All-America status in the heptathlon, where top finishers are recognized as First Team or Second Team All-Americans. Having recently scored a personal best of 5,735 points at the Big 12 meet, her coach believes she has the potential to surpass 5,800 points at nationals. "She’s a fighter," Lott-Hogan stated, acknowledging the fierce competition Bonds will face.