Hayley Manners ’25MBA ’25MSBM Keeps Moving Forward

Hayley Manners has been moving fast for as long as she can remember.

Long before she became a Division I track athlete, before national titles and record-setting jumps, she was a kid in Toronto chasing anything that involved motion. Basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football. If there was a game to be played, she was in it. A gymnast, too, and often the fastest on the playground, the one everyone noticed when recess turned into a race.

That early momentum eventually found its direction in track and field, where she developed into a long and triple jumper. By 11th grade, after hitting a personal best of 5.77 meters, new possibilities began to take shape. Recruiting conversations followed, something far less common in Canada than in the United States, and for the first time, Manners could see a future beyond what once felt distant.

Even as Canada’s top U-18 long jumper and a national champion, her marks did not fully align with top American prospects. Only a handful of schools reached out.

It didn’t matter. She was determined to compete at the highest level.

Manners chose Central Michigan University, stepping into an environment that challenged her in unexpected ways. Moving from a major city to a small college town was not part of her original plan, but it became a defining chapter, one that strengthened her independence and sharpened her competitive edge.

By the time she began considering graduate school, her perspective had expanded. She wanted not only to compete, but to grow, to lead and to build something lasting beyond the track.

That ambition led her to the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF’s College of Business, where opportunity meets scale and where students are encouraged to accelerate progress, expand their reach and translate talent into impact.

At UCF, Manners entered a new kind of arena, competing in the Big 12 Conference and training year-round in Florida’s climate. It was an environment built for momentum, one that challenged her to think bigger about what was possible, both in sport and in the future she was beginning to shape.

She arrived ready to make the most of her final collegiate season.

Then everything changed.

On Dec. 1, 2023, during an intrasquad meet, Manners lined up for her fifth-round jump.

Step. Step. Pop.

The sound was unmistakable. She had ruptured her left Achilles.

In an instant, her season ended. Years of preparation halted. The frustration came first, followed by uncertainty.

But in the months that followed, something else began to take shape.

What initially felt like a devastating setback became a turning point. The pause she never planned for created space to reconsider what came next, not just as an athlete, but as someone building a future with intention.

Her focus expanded.

While pursuing both her MBA and Master of Sports Business Management, Manners immersed herself in the business side of sport with the same discipline she once brought to training. She attended conferences, built connections and stepped into new environments that pushed her to think differently about her path.

She also began to invest in something she had never fully had time for: her personal brand.

What started as a way to stay engaged during recovery evolved into a platform for storytelling and connection. Through Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, Manners began sharing her journey, offering an honest look at identity, ambition and transition.

It became clear that her impact could extend beyond competition.

“I’ve really grown into myself here,” she says.

That growth reflects the kind of environment UCF is building, one that expands participation and empowers students to explore multiple pathways toward success. Surrounded by driven peers and supported by a university that values both ambition and adaptability, Manners found herself stepping into new opportunities with confidence.

“Coming here opened so many doors and showed me what I’m capable of,” she says.

Now, as she looks ahead, she carries both sides of her journey with her: the athlete and the builder.

Her Olympic dream remains in focus, with her sights set on representing Team Canada at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. At the same time, she is preparing for a career in sport business, with aspirations of working in the front office of a women’s professional team.

With Toronto set to welcome a WNBA expansion franchise, the idea of returning home to help grow the game for women feels especially meaningful.

Because for Manners, success has never been confined to a single lane. It is about building momentum, embracing possibility and continuing to move forward with purpose.