Shalysa Wray

Shalysa Wray
Personal information
Born (1999-05-06) 6 May 1999 (age 27)
Cayman Islands
Sport
CountryCayman Islands
SportAthletics
Events
100 m, 200 m, 400 m
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking
  • 400 m: 144 (2022)
  • 200 m: 383 (2024)
  • 100 m: 831 (2019)
Personal bests
  • 400 m: 52.17 (2022)
  • 200 m: 23.85 (2024)
  • 100 m: 11.61 (2024)

Shalysa Wray (born 6 May 1999) is a Caymanian sprinter whose events include the 100, 200 and 400 metres. She won silver in the 400 metres at the 2017 Island Games and represented the Cayman Islands in the women's 400 metres at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, becoming the first Caymanian woman to contest the event at the Olympics. She also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2024 World Indoor Championships.

She set Caymanian national records in the outdoor and indoor 400 metres. She competed at the college level for Xavier University of Louisiana and Kansas State University, earning All-America honours in four events at the 2019 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Outdoor Championships.

Early life

Shalysa Wray was born on 6 May 1999 in the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory located in the Western Caribbean. Her parents and both grandmothers were distance runners. She was recruited by a high school in Jamaica to train in athletics and attended St Jago High School. Representing the school at the 2018 Jamaican national junior championships, she finished second in the under-20 400 metres in 55.29 seconds.

She was the first member of her family to attend college. She enrolled at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans in January 2019 to study business management, before transferring to Kansas State University in 2020 to study marketing. In June 2023, she received Academic All-District VII honours from College Sports Communicators.

Running career

Youth and junior career

Wray competed in the under-18 200 metres at the 2015 CARIFTA Games in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, running 24.96 seconds in the heats, and did not qualify for the final. Later that year, she competed in the 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, where she was eliminated in the heats of both events. At the 2017 Island Games in Gotland, Sweden, she won silver in the 400 metres in 56.33 seconds, behind Catherine Reid of the Isle of Man. The following year, she placed fourth at the under-20 400 metres at the CARIFTA Games in Nassau, Bahamas, in 54.63 seconds.

Wray reached the 400-metre semi-finals at the 2018 World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, where she ran 54.32 seconds. Wray began competing for Xavier in the 2018–19 season. At the 2019 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, she won the 100 and 400 metres and finished second in the 200 metres, setting university records in the 200 and 400 metres.

Senior career

Wary won the 100 and 400 metres and finished second in the 200 metres at the 2019 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, setting university records in the 200 and 400 metres. At the 2019 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Championships, she earned All-America honours in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 4 × 100 metres relay and 4 × 400 metres relay. Competing as a freshman, she was the only woman to score in four events at the meet. She came fourth at the under-23 200 metres at the 2019 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships in Querétaro, Mexico.

She won the 60 metres at the Kansas–Kansas State–Wichita State Triangular in January 2021 in 7.51 seconds. In February, Wray said she hoped to succeed Cydonie Mothersill as the fastest Caymanian woman, describing her recent performances as encouragement towards that goal. That month, she placed fifth in the 400 metres at the 2021 Big 12 Indoor Championships in 53.40 seconds. She finished fourth at the under-23 400 metres at the 2021 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Costa Rica.

Wray received an invitation from the Olympic Games Tripartite Commission to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, held in 2021. She trained in Jamaica over the summer under a programme set by coach Cliff Rovelto, then in Florida, before attending a training camp in Tokyo about a week before the Olympic Village opened. Wray became the first Caymanian woman to compete in the Olympic 400 metres, finishing seventh in her heat in a personal-best 53.61 seconds without advancing to the semi-finals. In January 2023, Wray said that the experience of competing at the Olympics had reduced her nervousness before taking part in subsequent meets. At the inaugural Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, later that year, she finished fifth in the 400-metre final in 53.47 seconds, improving her outdoor personal best.

In January 2022, she improved her 60-metre personal best to 7.44 seconds at the Triangular meet and ran a 300-metre personal best of 38.21 seconds at the Kansas State DeLoss Dodds Invitational. She ran 52.17 seconds on 14 May in the 400-metre preliminary round of the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Lubbock, Texas, setting a Caymanian national record.

At the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships in June 2022, Wray finished 23rd in the 400-metre semi-finals in 52.94 seconds. She also competed in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the championships. The same month, she won the 200 metres and 400 metres at the Cayman Islands National Championships in 23.58 and 53.23 seconds respectively. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she ran 53.92 seconds, tying for sixth in her 400-metre heat.

She improved her 60-metre personal best to 7.38 seconds at the Kansas–Kansas State–Wichita State Triangular in January 2023, setting a venue record at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility. She ran an indoor 200-metre personal best of 23.85 seconds at the same event. In an interview that month, she credited her progress to training prescribed by Kansas State coach Rovelto, which she continued with assistance from her national coach during a Christmas visit to the Cayman Islands. Later that month, she won the 300 metres at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational in a personal-best 37.80 seconds, setting a meet record. She improved her indoor 200-metre best again, to 23.69 seconds, at the Steve Miller Invitational in February. At the Big 12 Indoor Championships on 25 February, she finished sixth in the 400 metres in 53.20 seconds, a Caymanian indoor record.

In June 2023, Wray won the women's 200 metres at the Cayman Islands National Championships in 24.15 seconds. At the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, she placed sixth in her 400-metre semi-final in 55.68 seconds and finished 12th overall. She won the 300 metres at the 2024 Steve Miller Invitational in 39.08 seconds, setting meet and venue records at the Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track. The 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow saw her finish sixth in her 400-metre heat. In June 2024, she won the 400 metres at the Penn Relays Summer Showcase in 55.37 seconds. As of October 2026, she has not competed since 2024 according to her record on the World Athletics website.

Personal bests

Personal bests
Discipline Performance Date Venue Notes
60 Metres 7.44 i14 Jan 2022Anschutz Sports Pavillion, Lawrence (USA)
100 Metres 11.61 w3 May 2024Cessna Stadium, Wichita (USA)Not legal; Wind: +2.9
100 Metres 11.6722 April 2023Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium, Waco (USA)Wind: +1.4
200 Metres 23.853 May 2024Cessna Stadium, Wichita (USA)Wind: +0.7
200 Metres Short Track 23.86 i3 February 2023Convention Center, Albuquerque (USA)
300 Metres 38.21 i22 January 2022Ahearn Field House, Manhattan (USA)
300 Metres Short Track 38.21 i22 January 2022Ahearn Field House, Manhattan (USA)
400 Metres 52.17 (NR)14 May 2022Terry & Linda Fuller T&F Complex, Lubbock (USA)
400 Metres Short Track 53.20 (NR) i25 February 2023Sports Performance Center, Lubbock (USA)
4×100 Metres Relay 44.8615 May 2022Terry & Linda Fuller T&F Complex, Lubbock (USA)
4×400 Metres Relay 3:32.9124 Apr 2021John Jacobs Track Complex, Norman (USA)
4×400 Metres Relay Short Track 3:37.93 i27 February 2021Sports Performance Center, Lubbock (USA)
Distance Medley 11:24.82 i25 February 2022Lied Recreation Center, Ames (USA)

International competitions

International competition results
Year Competition Event Round Placing in round/heat Time (seconds) Ref.
2015 CARIFTA Games (under-18) 100 metres Heats 11th in round 12.18
2015 CARIFTA Games (under-18) 200 metres Heats 9th in round 24.96
2015 World Youth Championships 100 metres Heats 6th in heat 12.40
2015 World Youth Championships 200 metres Heats 5th in heat 25.01
2017 Island Games 400 metres Final 2nd 56.33
2018 CARIFTA Games (under-20) 400 metres Final 4th 54.63
2018 World U20 Championships 400 metres Heats 4th in heat 54.48
2018 World U20 Championships 400 metres Semi-finals 18th in round 54.32
2019 NACAC Under-23 Championships 100 metres Heats 11th in round 11.93
2019 NACAC Under-23 Championships 200 metres Final 4th 24.39
2021 NACAC Under-23 Championships 400 metres Final 4th 54.42
2021 2020 Summer Olympics 400 metres Heats 37th in round 53.61
2021 Junior Pan American Games 400 metres Final 5th 53.47
2022 Commonwealth Games 400 metres Heats Joint 6th in heat 53.92
2023 Central American and Caribbean Games 400 metres Semi-finals 12th in round 55.68
2024 World Indoor Championships 400 metres Heats 6th in heat 55.82

References

  1. ↑ "World Rankings – Women's 400m – 21 June 2022". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "World Rankings – Women's 200m – 16 January 2024". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "World Rankings – Women's 100m – 31 December 2019". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "Shalysa Wray: Profile > Current World Rankings". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "Shalysa Wray: Profile > Personal bests". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Shalysa Wray". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Shalysa Wray: First Gen and Olympian". Dividends. Kansas State University College of Business Administration. Winter 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Our Islands". Cayman Islands Government. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  9. 1 2 Reid, Paul A. (24 June 2018). "Bentley, Myrie complete sprint doubles". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Wray to run 100, 200 at NACAC Championships in Mexico". Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Shalysa Wray – 2019–20 Women's Track and Field Roster". Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "Nine Wildcats Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors". Kansas State University Athletics. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "Carifta Games 2015 – Complete Results". MileSplit. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "IAAF World Youth Championships Cali 2015 – Results" (PDF). International Association of Athletics Federations. pp. 58, 104. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  15. ↑ "Cayman athletes bring home 25 medals from Island Games". Cayman Compass. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  16. 1 2 "400m Women – Final". NatWest Island Games XVII Gotland 2017 Results. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Nassau CARIFTA Games – Women's 400 Metres Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  18. 1 2 "400 Metres Women – Semi-Final Summary: IAAF World U20 Championships Tampere 2018". World Athletics. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  19. 1 2 "GCAC Championships: 3-peat for Nuggets; Rush 2nd again". Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 "Wray reaches NACAC 200 final, places fourth". Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Sacred Heart's Mary Nusloch Earns May Athlete of the Month Honor". Allstate Sugar Bowl. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  22. 1 2 Russell Jr, Seaford (2 February 2021). "Wray claims two top-five ranks in the Big 12". Cayman Compass. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  23. ↑ Stampp, Renae (2 February 2021). "Caymanian athlete Shalysa Wray shines at Kansas State University". Cayman Marl Road. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships – Women's 400 Meters". Track & Field Results Reporting System. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Shalysa Wray – 2023–24 Track & Field Roster". Kansas State University Athletics. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  26. 1 2 Bush, Flynn (20 July 2021). "Cayman Islands Athlete Shine At NACAC". Caymanian Times. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  27. 1 2 3 Russell Jr, Seaford (23 July 2021). "Crooks aims high in Tokyo". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  28. ↑ Russell Jr, Seaford (3 August 2021). "Wray runs personal best during Olympic heat". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  29. 1 2 "Shalysa Wray". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 2 August 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  30. ↑ "Wray records personal best in Olympic debut". Cayman News Service. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  31. 1 2 3 4 Fritchen, D. Scott (20 January 2023). "Wray Leaving Her Mark". Kansas State University Athletics. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  32. 1 2 Turnbull, Lindsey (7 December 2021). "Junior athletes made Cayman proud". Caymanian Times. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  33. ↑ Russell Jr, Seaford (3 February 2022). "Wray runs three first places in January". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  34. ↑ "Shankar Finishes Third in First Career Decathlon at Big 12 Outdoors". Kansas State University Athletics. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  35. ↑ "Big 12 Championships – Women's 400 Meters". Track & Field Results Reporting System. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Wray leads KSU track athletes in international championships". The Manhattan Mercury. Tribune Content Agency. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2026 – via ProQuest.
  37. 1 2 "Wray Wins Two Titles at Cayman Islands National Championships". Kansas State University Athletics. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  38. ↑ "NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships – Women's 4 × 400 Relay". Track & Field Results Reporting System. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  39. ↑ "K-State track and field athletes to compete at Commonwealth Games". The Manhattan Mercury. Tribune Content Agency. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2026 – via ProQuest.
  40. 1 2 "XXII Commonwealth Games – Women's 400 Metres Results". World Athletics. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  41. ↑ Russell Jr, Seaford (25 January 2023). "Sprinter Wray clocks record start to 2023 preseason". Cayman Compass. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  42. ↑ "KSU DeLoss Dodds Invitational – Official Meet Report" (PDF). Kansas State University Athletics. 21 January 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  43. ↑ "Big 12 Indoor Championships – Women's 400 Meters". Track & Field Results Reporting System. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  44. ↑ "This Week in NACAC" (PDF). North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  45. 1 2 Dakers, Alex (8 July 2023). "Hurdler Rasheem Brown 'incredibly proud' of CAC silver medal". Cayman Compass. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  46. ↑ "Steve Miller Invitational – Results" (PDF). Kansas State University Athletics. 16 February 2024. p. 8. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  47. ↑ "Kansas State Track & Field – Meet and Facility Records" (PDF). Kansas State University Athletics. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  48. 1 2 "400 Metres Women – Round 1: Race Analysis" (PDF). World Athletics. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  49. ↑ "Penn Relays Summer Showcase #1 – Results". World Athletics. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  50. ↑ "Shalya Wray > Personal Bests". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  51. ↑ "400 Metres Women – Heats Summary: IAAF World U20 Championships Tampere 2018". World Athletics. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  52. ↑ "Campeonato NACAC Sub18 y Sub23 2019 – Resultados" (PDF) (in Spanish). North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association. 7 July 2019. PDF page 8 (printed page 7). Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  53. ↑ "400 metres, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 October 2026.