With the 2026 outdoor track and field season near the mid-way point, junior standout Jana Willems has proved to be a pivotal piece to this Idaho squad. As a sprinter, Willems has emerged as one of the Vandals’ most consistent and explosive performers, using her speed and steady progression to establish herself as a key contributor in both individual sprint events and even relays.
Before arriving at Idaho, Willems was a standout at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, Washington, where she established herself as one of the state’s top sprinters. She won the 2023 4A 100-meter state title and earned First Team All-State honors in both the 100 and 200-meter, along with district and WESCO championships in both events.
As a team captain, she helped break the school record in the 4×100-meter relay with a 49.16 -second time, and also set individual school records in the 100-meter with a 12.09-second time and 200-meter 25.04-second time, overall leaving a lasting impact on the program and the state as a whole
Specializing in the short sprints, Willems has built her reputation in the 60-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter races while also playing an important role on Idaho’s 4×100-meter relay team. Her combination of quick acceleration and race composure has made her a reliable presence in competitive fields and a valuable asset for the Vandals.
Willems’ collegiate journey began during the 2023–24 season, where she quickly proved she could compete at a high level. As a freshman, she consistently placed among Idaho’s top finishers, recording multiple top-eight performances throughout the year. One of her biggest highlights came at the 2024 Whitworth Peace Meet, where she captured a first-place finish in the 100-meter while also taking second in the 200-meter, showcasing her versatility across sprint distances.
She continued to build momentum into the postseason, earning an eighth-place finish in the 60-meter at the 2025 Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championship.
Willems also played a key role in Idaho’s relay success, helping the 4×100-meter team secure a second-place finish at the 2024 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship. These performances set the foundation for what looked to be a promising career in the black and gold.
Building on such a promising freshman start, Willems returned in the 2024–25 season with increased confidence and a focus on improving across all of her events. She competed for Idaho at the 2025 Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 60-meter, gaining valuable experience against top conference competition.
Throughout the season, she showed noticeable growth, setting new personal records in each of her primary events. Among her top performances, Willems earned a third-place finish in the 100-meter at the WSU Cougar Classic and followed it up with another third-place finish as part of the 4×100-meter relay team at the 2025 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
Her continued development and ability to consistently place near the top of competitive meets demonstrated that she was evolving into one of Idaho’s most dependable sprinters. Now in the middle of her junior season, Willems is continuing that upward trajectory. Already holding collegiate personal bests of 7.58 seconds in the 60-meter, 12.00 in the 100-meter and 25.05 in the 200-meter.
Willems had an unbelievable meet at the Whitworth Peace meet in Spokane Washington. Willems was a huge part of the women’s 4×100 team, in which the team finished with a 45.16-second time, beating the two-year record by 0.20 seconds. She didn’t stop there as she went on to win gold in the 100 meter with a time of 11.69 seconds, the second fastest in school history.
She also had a great performance at the Jeff Rahn Classic, which was also in Spokane. Once there, she and the fellow 4×100 teammates won gold, along with winning the 100 meters again as well. Willems has positioned herself to push for even faster times and higher finishes as the season progresses. Her experience and consistency have made her a key piece of Idaho’s sprint group, and she continues to contribute inboth individual and relay events.
As the 2026 season continues, Willems is showing all the signs of an athlete ready to take another big step forward. With her combination of experience, speed, and consistency, she has already become a reliable contributor for the Vandals and a competitor to watch in the Big Sky Conference.
Whether she’s lining up for an individual sprint or helping power a relay team down the track, Willems continues to prove that she belongs in the spotlight. Her journey to a rising collegiate sprinter has been defined by steady growth and determination and with the season still unfolding, Willems is only getting started.