It seems like Shamon Bailey has been on the Mountain Pointe track for five or six years.
Whether it is the Tempe City track meet or the state track meet, the Mountain Pointe senior-turned graduate has been one of the Pride’s top competitors all four years of her high school career.
She surprised as a freshman, flourished as a sophomore, impressed as a junior, and led as a senior.
Bailey has the speed that has allowed her to compete with the state best from the start, and finished it off with a couple of medals at the state meet.
She was the city champion in three of her four years in the long jump and holds the meet record (18-07.25), qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash (12.55 final), finished fourth in the long jump (17 feet, 9.5 inches), and helped the Pride to a second-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay.
“Shamon is a very competitive and talented athlete,” Pride coach Jeff Griffin said. “I believe her best days are ahead of her. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her do really well at the junior college level.”
Before she heads off to Pima Community College for the next stage in her life, Bailey receives one more accolade: The Ahwatukee Foothills News Female Senior Athlete of the Year.
One last look at Shamon Bailey
Date of birth: April 1, 1994
Height: 5-foot-7
Weight: 125
Family members: Mother Robin, brother Jalen
Car (year and make): 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hobbies: Ceramics, singing, hiking
Favorite TV show: “Hey, Arnold”
Favorite movie(s): “Accepted,” “Malibu’s Most Wanted,” “Baby Mama”
Favorite actor: Channing Tatum
Favorite athlete: (Olympic track athlete) Sanya Richards-Ross
Favorite song: “Me, Myself & I,” by Beyonce
Favorite book: “Catcher In The Rye,” by J.D. Salinger
Favorite number: 3
Best compliment: You look nice today
Worst advice: To give up
Best advice: If first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again
The thing I like most about sports: Teaches you discipline
What I dislike most about sports: Competitiveness
If I could do one thing over in my life: High school
Last dream you remember: Jumping out of the sand pit at state
What I will remember most about high school: Breaking the long jump record my freshman year
If you won the lottery what are the first three things you would do:
1. Buy my mom a brand new car with zero miles
2. Get a Chipotle in my house
3. Buy 10,000 honey buns
Describe your perfect day: Wake up and not have to do anything all day. Kick back, watch movies with a waiter who would cater to my every need.
Where will you be in 10 years: Hopefully, a part of the USA track team
Where will you be in 20 years: Married with a loving family living in Huntington, Calif.
