Gaines appears ready to challenge the season-best four Road Runner Sports NEC Rookie of the Week awards she garnered during indoor season. Claiming the first award of her freshman outdoor campaign, the 2009 NEC Indoor MVP long jumped 5.55m (18-2.50) and clocked in at 25.22 for the 200m dash at the Hurricane Invitational. Although she came up short of the ECAC Championship standards in both events, Gaines finds herself as the NEC early season leader.