Before ACU
Kaia was a steady performer for The Denton HS throughout her T&F career there. She scored in the district meet every year in HS – as a freshman she placed 5 th in the HJ and 7 th in the TJ in District 6-5A; as a sophomore she placed 1 st in the HJ and 7 th in the TJ in District 7-5A; as a junior she placed 3 rd in the HJ and 4 th in the TJ in District 7-5A; and as a senior, she placed 3 rd in the 100 hurdles, HJ, and TJ, plus 4 th in the LJ in District 6-5A. She qualified to move on to the area in her last 3 HS season. She was T&F All-District Academic team all 4 years. She also played volleyball, where she was All-District 2 nd team as a senior, and basketball, where she was All-District 2 nd team as a junior. She was Academic All-District in both of those sports numerous times as well. Her personal bests in T&F include: 16.21 in the 100 hurdles, 5-4/1.62m in the HJ, 15 8.5/4.79 in the LJ, and 35-5.5/10.80 in the TJ. At ACU is training as a combined events athlete (pentathlon indoors and heptathlon outdoors).

Personal
Kaia graduated from Denton HS in 2025 in the top 7% of her class. At Denton HS, she was a Denton ISD Honor Graduate, member of the National Honor Society, Denton Public Schools Foundation scholarship recipient, the Denton African- American Foundation Scholarship recipient, and the FUMC-Denton scholarship recipient. Her parents are Karen Anderson-Lain and Brian Lain and she has one brother, Aidan. Kaia is a Biochemistry major at ACU. In Denton, she is an active volunteer at her home church, FUMC-Denton; United Women in Faith; the Conference Youth Leadership Program of the Horizon Texas Conference; and at the Bridgeport Camp and Conference Center.

Why did you choose ACU? I chose ACU because of its strong faith-based community and the welcoming atmosphere. I wanted to be part of a university where I could grow both as a student and in my faith.

What is your favorite thing about ACU? ACU is a place where everyone knows everyone, it truly feels like a family. The campus is beautiful and the supportive environment makes it feel like home.