Paula (West) Mayfield is one of the most accomplished distance runners in school history. She is one of six Loper women to earn at least five track All-American honors in a career, recording each at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) level. She also is one of seven women, either at the NAIA or Division II levels, to earn cross country All-American honors.
Mayfield currently ranks in the UNK all-time top 10 in three indoor and three outdoor track events. Her 35:55.7 is still the Loper 10,000-meter standard while her 10:56.79 is the second fastest two-mile time. ?
The six-time track All-American placed sixth in the 10,000-meter run at the 1988 NAIA outdoor championships after helping the two-mile relay team come in third at the 1987 indoor meet. The Shelton High School graduate then earned four All-American honors in 1989, placing third in both the two and three mile runs and helping the distance medley relay team finish fourth. Her efforts helped then-Kearney State finish fourth in the indoor team race with 40 points. Finally, she was fourth in the 10,000 in the spring of 1989.
In 1987, Mayfield placed 20th at the national cross country championships. Teammate Donna Spickelmier was 22nd, helping the Lopers place 17th in the team race.
Graduating with a degree in Physical Education and Health, Mayfield currently serves as mortgage & consumer lender for the Bank of Doniphan. She previously spent eight years at First National Bank as a residential lending originator and worked 16 years in Mortgage Originating. Mayfield lives in Grand Island and has three children; Kelsey, Dylan and Taryn Mayfield. She is engaged to Les Stelk.
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