This year’s Drake Relays was more than just a competition—it was a moment in history. On a crisp spring day in Des Moines, Iowa, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd as Tara Davis-Woodhall prepared to take her mark for the women’s long jump. Not far away, her husband, Hunter Woodhall, readied himself for the men’s 400m. The event marked something extraordinary—not only were the Woodhalls competing together for the first time at the same international track meet, but they were doing so under the same banner, side by side, in the colors of a new sponsor: Nike. But this is just the beginning of their dreams!

This wasn’t just about performance. It was about transformation. The 2025 Drake Relays, part of the prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour (WACT), made room for both elite able-bodied athletes and para-athletes to share the same spotlight. And with Tara and Hunter—an Olympic long jumper and a Paralympic sprinter—competing as equals, that line between athletics and para-athletics blurred a little more. For Tara and Hunter, this moment was years in the making. Their love story has long captured hearts—an unfiltered mix of passion, perseverance, and purpose. But now, their sporting journeys are intertwined in more than marriage. They are united in mission.

In a recent feature with Cosmopolitan, Tara’s voice carried the weight of that mission. “I can’t believe that we’re officially Nike-sponsored athletes,” she said, smiling, eyes glistening with pride. “We’re ready and back in training. We’re ready to change the innovation of track and field—for the Para sport and for long jump.” There’s a reason that quote echoes far beyond headlines. In it, you hear the longing of two athletes who have fought to be seen—not just for their talent, but for their potential to shift paradigms.

Well, Tara continued after a thoughtful pause, “I feel like long jump is lacking in technology, where it’s all developed in sprints, and then same for Hunter’s blades. There’s not as much innovation as there needs to be, as time is changing.” Their concern vouches both for innovation and inclusivity. Nike already had a view of that message. They had their answer written on their website.

On its website, the company proclaimed: “Nike is announcing the addition of Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall to its decorated track and field roster, further demonstrating the brand’s commitment to partnering with elite athletes to break barriers, push limits and move the world forward through the power of sport.” These are not just words. They are a call to action. A declaration that sport should evolve, not just with performance but with purpose. And no two athletes embody that more than the Woodhalls.

Just three days ago, Hunter Woodhall posted about his recent ventures. On Thread, he writes, “We’re working on a prosthetic office to make running/sports prosthetics for everyone! Got a bill passed in Arkansas that forces insurance to cover secondary prosthetics, and many other states are following! Going to make running accessible for everyone! Running is a privilege not a right!” Nike’s push only enables the couple more in 

Tara Davis-Woodhall explains the inspirational factor 

For Tara Davis-Woodhall, inspiration has always been found in motion—in the rhythm of her run-up, the wind at her back, the silent flight through the air. But lately, something deeper has stirred within her. A new kind of fuel. A new perspective. Well, it started not just by watching her husband, Hunter Woodhall, but by immersing herself in the world he represents: para-athletics. From the sidelines, she didn’t just see the competition. She saw the courage behind every step.

On a recent episode of the Well Played podcast, Tara opened up about what she’s learned, and the emotion in her voice was unmistakable. “Some people just have had accidents like a year prior to making this Paralympics team,” she said, almost in disbelief. “And I’m like, what? Like, people don’t know their stories.” That realization hit her hard—not just as an athlete, but as a human being. In para-sport, she’s discovered more than strength. She’s found stories of resilience, rebirth, and raw grit.

“Their stories are insane,” she continued. “It’s like, okay, this person has a disability either they were born with it or a gnarly accident has happened they survived and out here competing doing the same thing that, like, I’m doing every day, getting up working out, and like, that is such for me, an inspiration.” Tara is now more than a long jumper. She’s a witness, an ally, and a megaphone for stories that rarely get the spotlight they deserve.

In her moments between workouts and cheering for Hunter, Tara has gained something invaluable: clarity. The kind that reminds her what sport is really about—not just the glory of the jump, but the gravity of the journey. And with that insight, she’s not just leaping for medals anymore. She’s leaping for visibility. For those who rise again when no one’s watching. For the ones who don’t quit after the fall.