Bellevue West track star Jaiya Patillo earns 9th National Title

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The name Jaiya means ‘victory’. By her most recent accomplishments, she’s certainly proving to be victorious.

At just 16 she’s sprinting towards greatness, one step at a time.

“I was seven years old when I first got into running. My dad enrolled me. He had already seen before when I was really little that I had like a natural gift for running. I’d be running around in my walker,” says Patillo.

In June, Patillo won her 9th National Title in the 400 meter sprint at the Adidas Track Nationals in Greensboro, NC. She also won the USATF Region 8 Championship in July of 2025, and set a new meet record.

She has been to the Junior Olympics 16 times and she holds the state record in Nebraska for the 400m, setting it as a freshman. She has represented Adidas as an unattached athlete since seventh grade.

“When you’re really serious about it and get to a high level, it becomes more about the times, not always just about winning. So even the past ones where I’ve won and didn’t get a PR, those meant a lot to me still, but this one definitely meant more knowing that I got a PR and that I’m actually improving in my times too,” says Patillo.

The Bellevue West rising junior went viral for a 2021 clip running 17 miles per hour on the treadmill. The video earned her a spot on the Jennifer Hudson show, now three times.

“Yes, it’s something that I love and something that I have a passion for, something I know I was given a gift to use, but knowing that too is something that lets me know to keep going and pushing myself, even when it gets hard. Because it’s not always going to be easy. It’s definitely a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline,” says Patillo.

Whether it’s track or any sport, Patillo’s best advice to other athletes is to always believe in yourself.

“Any sport there’s going to be discipline that’s involved and there’s going to be a lot of times where you don’t want to keep going. But if you know it’s something you want to do, do it for yourself and don’t do it for anybody else and just work hard and try your best,” says Patillo.

Off the track, Patillo enjoys modeling and has even walked in New York Fashion week. She also sings and has a single out, titled “Track”.

Patillo, a is starting to think about college. She says she is keeping her options open, but her top three choices right now are Texas A&M, Oregon and UCLA.

Her goal for this year is to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan from September 13-21, 2025.

Her current best time as of this article is 53.40.