Faith, Family and Finish Lines: Lexy Halladay-Lowry’s Journey to Tokyo 

American athlete Lexy Halladay-Lowry competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo in September. Over 2000 athletes from approximately 200 countries competed in 49 events at the 67,000-capacity stadium. For Lexy, it was a deeply personal and spiritual experience.

Running with Purpose

Lexy’s journey to Tokyo began with a standout collegiate career at Brigham Young University (BYU), where she earned a degree in public health and set records in the 3000-meter steeplechase and 5000-meter run. She turned professional in 2025, signing with Nike, and continued training under BYU coach Diljeet Taylor.

Her path was not without challenges. In late 2024, while preparing for the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Cross Country Championships, Lexy suffered a stress reaction in her femur. As team captain, she felt immense pressure—but the injury taught her to rely on God.

"I learned to pray and talk with God. It took so much mental, physical, emotional and spiritual energy to continue to train and cross-train. On the day of the race, I felt peaceful knowing I had done everything in my power and that I was relying on a power greater than myself. I knew God would take me the rest of the way.”

At the start of the 6-kilometer race, for the first time in weeks, Lexy did not feel pain in her hip. With a time of 19:48.4, she finished first among her team members and 14^th in the overall competition, leading BYU to a national title.

“I learned you don’t need to BE 100% to GIVE 100%. Whatever your 100% is, God will make up the rest as long as you’re giving everything. All he asks is your best effort. That’s all you can control.”

She later placed 2nd in the 5000m and 3rd in the 3000m at the March 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships, followed by a 2nd-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships three months later.

Lexy’s professional debut came at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in August 2025, where she won the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase (9:08.68), securing her first national title and a spot on Team USA for the World Championships. She wore her BYU uniform in the prelims and her Nike uniform in the final.

“I’m excited to be held to a higher standard. I want to be one of the best runners in the world. I want to continue every year to find my new threshold point.”

Spiritual Training

Lexy’s preparation for Tokyo wasn’t just physical—it was also spiritual. After the USA competition, she set a goal to read the entire Book of Mormon before the World Championships, committing to 8–10 chapters daily.

“Like in sports, I had to set a goal. Being intentional with the time I spend reading the scriptures has helped me find balance in my life. I started to see and feel differently. I found I was opening my eyes, opening my heart and softening my heart to see the good in the world.”

She keeps a daily journal to reflect on how God answers her prayers—sometimes through a phone call, a friend’s kindness, or a verse of scripture.

“When we get complacent about seeing God’s hand in our lives, we don’t see it. If we’re not looking, we stop seeing the miracles that happen every day.”

While jogging alone in a Tokyo park, Lexy felt a wave of loneliness. Her first thought was to call her dad, but she didn’t have her phone. She instinctively turned to prayer and remembered the story of Elisha in 2 Kings, where the servant saw the mountain filled with horses and chariots of fire. In that moment, Lexy realized that there are many people who support her and want the best for her in every aspect of her life. Shortly after that, her mom sent her the exact same Bible verses.

“Even in the stadium, on the starting line with the crowd roaring and lined up with people I’m competing against, it’s easy to feel alone. That scripture reminds me I’m never alone.”

At the World Championships, Lexy placed 14th in the steeplechase. She was surprised by the noise of the crowd – by far the loudest stadium she had ever experienced. the end of each event, athletes are named one by one. When they announced her name, the crowd erupted. Turning, she saw that a long jumper had just completed a great jump and realized who they were cheering for. Smiling, she appreciated the moment as one part of her journey—guided by faith, family, and a loving Heavenly Father.

Advice to Youth

Lexy encourages young athletes to anchor their identity in their divine nature:

“It’s so easy to tie your entire identity to specific performances and then question your worth if you don’t do well. But you’re not just a runner or a student. You are a son or daughter of God. If your identity is rooted in that, then failing in a race or not doing well on a test – yes, it’s part of life but it’s not going to shake you. The waves of doing well and doing bad smooth out and you realize there’s a greater purpose.

Japan Connections

Lexy was joined in Tokyo by her parents and her husband’s parents.

Both her mother-in-law and father-in-law had served as young missionaries in Japan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While in Tokyo, her mother-in-law reunited with a Church member she had taught decades earlier.

“She lit up in a way I’ve never seen before. She loves the food, the culture, and the people here.”

Lexy also noticed the kindness and integrity of the Japanese people. When her father left his wallet in a restaurant, a staff member ran across a large mall to return it.

“Everyone here seems to understand they’re part of a unit. I’ve never experienced that on such a large scale.”

On her last day in Tokyo, Lexy walked from Shinagawa to the Tokyo Japan Temple visitor’s center, enjoyed a delicious Japanese lunch, and then headed to the airport. She’ll be back!