Aliya Barnes joined the cross country and track and field team as a graduate assistant in 2019.
Barnes was a standout hurdler at West Orange High School where she still holds records in the 400m hurdle, 100m hurdle (14.08), and the 55m hurdle. She was an All-American during her four years at West Orange where she competed at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Barnes was a two-time N.J. State Meet of Champions qualifier in the 55m and 100m hurdles and finished fifth at the State Meet of Champions in the 55m hurdles. She ran the 60-meter hurdles at the New Balance Indoor Nationals three times and competed in the 100m hurdles once and also won the 100m hurdles at the 2012 USATF New Jersey Junior Olympic Championships.
Upon graduation, she took her talents to the University of Cincinnati where she continued to improve. During her tenure with the Bearcats, she was one of the best runners, grabbing hold of several records in the record books. She ranks #4 all-time in the 100m hurdles (13.49) after placing third at the 2017 AAC Outdoor Championships. She also sits in 4th  in the 60m hurdles (8.50) and 6th in the 300m (42.74). Barnes was a member of the 4x200m relay (outdoor) quad that ran a school-record 1:38.15 in 2017.
Outside of track & field, Barnes has been a dance teacher since high school and a professional dancer since she was a child.Â
