February 4, 2026, is National Girls & Women in Sports Day. To celebrate, we're spotlighting two local college athletes who are excelling on and off the track. Julianna Page-Daughtry and Gina Bolla are both track athletes who grew up playing sports and now compete at the college level.
What makes you most proud of being a female athlete?
Julianna: What makes me most proud of being a female athlete is proving people wrong. There is still a mindset that men are overall superior, and every time a woman excels in her sport, she challenges that idea. Being a female athlete means showing immense strength, competitiveness, and discipline. Sometimes we have to show this at an even higher level than what people expect from us. Continuously rising above expectations and proving people wrong is what makes me most proud of being a female athlete.
Gina: What makes me proud of being a female athlete is knowing that I am part of a team of girls that is not afraid to push themselves. I am proud to be part of a group that shows up every day with strength and purpose. It is amazing to see women in sports continue to work hard, compete, and be leaders every single day. Whenever we compete, we are not only competing for ourselves, but we are opening doors for younger girls who want to follow in our footsteps.
How have sports taught you resilience or confidence?
J: Sports have taught me resilience because they are both mentally and physically draining, especially track. Track can be very unrewarding at times because you put in countless hours ofwork, and progress isn’t always immediately visible. You might train day and night just to shave off 0.1 seconds from your personal record. Learning how to not let that get to me, staying consistent, and believing in myself even when results don’t come right away have built both my mental and physical toughness and have truly taught me resilience.
G: Sports have taught me to get outside of my comfort zone, which includes trusting the work that I put in. There are good days and bad days. I have learned that progress is not always linear. Having a bad day or a setback as an athlete does not define me – how I respond does. Whether that is through a bad race, bad workout, or injury, I have learned that it is important to never give up when it gets tough and continue to work through the challenges. A bad moment, a bad time period, is temporary. What has helped me build confidence and resiliency is learning how to handle high-pressure situations in my sport and grow from my mistakes. When you continue to learn from your mistakes and grow as an athlete, you can look back on what you have overcome, and it makes the good days even better.
How do sports help girls find their voice?
J: Sports put girls in uncomfortable situations that almost force us to find our voice. Whether it is advocating for ourselves, speaking up for our needs, or pushing through the pressure. Sports teach us how to be confident in who we are and what we deserve. That helps us find our voice.
G: Sports give girls an opportunity to lead and to be themselves. This can be through motivating teammates, making decisions, and leading with purpose. When girls work together to compete, it gives them the confidence to use their voices not just in sports but in school, friendships, and their future careers. Having a sense of ownership helps girls realize that they deserve to be heard inside and outside of their sport
What role do coaches and mentors play in empowering women in sport?
J: Coaches play a very important role in empowering women in sports. Throughout all thedifferent sports I’ve played, most of my coaches have been male. All of my male coaches havebeen wonderful and have helped me get to where I am today. However, I believe that women’s sports teams need some type of female coach because empowerment from woman to woman hits much deeper. Seeing a woman in a leadership role creates a different kind of empowerment, understanding, connection, and inspiration. It also shows young female athletes that there is a place for them not only as competitors, but as leaders in sports.
G: Coaches and mentors provide guidance and encouragement to their athletes. Sometimes, a coach or a mentor may see an athlete’s potential before they see it for themselves. They create safe spaces for women to grow as athletes, take risks, make mistakes, and believe in their abilities to compete. They can help shape confidence, leadership, and a lifelong love for women’s sports.
Why is visibility for girls and women in sports so important?
J: Visibility for girls and women in sports is important because it creates representation. Growing up, seeing women competing and succeeding in sports showed me that I belong in sports too. Visibility encourages young girls to dream big and pursue sports without any type of limitation in their minds or doubts placed on them by society.
G: Visibility for girls and women is important because it helps show them that they are able to chase their dreams, that their goals are realistic and worth pursuing. When young girls see women competing, leading, and being successful, they soon start to imagine themselves doing the same thing. Representation can help build belief. The more we highlight women in sports, the more opportunities, respect, and support girls in future generations will have.
What message do you want young girls to hear on National Girls & Women in Sport Day?
J: If I could give any advice to young girls in sports, it would be not compare yourself to others. Everyone’s journey looks different. Focus on your own growth, trust in your training, and remember that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, even when it doesn’t look and feel like it.
G: I want young girls to hear that they are strong, capable, and deserve opportunities in sports. They belong just as much as anyone else. Do not be afraid to try new things and chase your dreams. Work hard, believe in yourself, and never let anyone tell you what you cannot do. Even if you are scared, try. It is okay if you make mistakes. Sports are not meant to be perfect. They are about believing in yourself and enjoying every step of your journey.