Rowlett track star races to North Texas

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Rowlett track star races to North Texas

By: LEE STRAIN

Few Eagles have flown higher than Shayla Hart, the Rowlett High School Female Athlete of the Year.

The National Honor Society student finished in the top ten percent of the 2005 graduating class and has signed to continue her scholarly and sprinting excellence as an Eagle for North Texas University.

Hart led the way in the Rowlett girls track team's second-place overall finish at the district track meet last month. She cruised to a record-setting win in the 400-meter run and anchored the Lady Eagles to a first place finish in the 800-meter relay.

"Shayla contributed not just with points in her events but in her work ethic showing the younger athletes what it takes to be successful," Rowlett track coach Ray Young said. "She works out at a different level. The younger kids see that and they know they have to bring their game up if they want to be here signing scholarship papers."

Hart's mother, Renee said that her daughter, a student with a 3.9 grade point average, got her academic genes from her father, Rickey. Hart attributes her athletic abilities to her father, as well, but Rickey gives the credit to his daughter.

"I was a good athlete but I told her that she was superior to me because I would not have been as committed to do my homework, chores then work-out like she does," Rickey said. "She has been able to juggle so many things. I know I would not have been that dedicated at her age."

Many schools such as TCU, Texas, Oklahoma and Texas State and UTA have recruited her talents this year. That wasn't the case in 2004, even though she was the district champion in the 400 meters.

"She was Texas' best secret," Renee said.

Attending school close to home was an important consideration for Hart when narrowing down her choices. The reception she received on her first visit to North Texas made her feel more at home than any other.

"I didn't need to visit any other schools. I just did it for the experience," she said. "I felt very comfortable when I first got to the campus. The coach picked me up from the academic center and we were able to talk. The girls were cool. We had lunch at the cafeteria. They all talked to me."

Hart is concentrating on excelling in her basic classes and is keeping her career options open. The Student Council and Mu Alpha Theta member is considering utilizing her math skills in the engineering field or she may decide to go with her heart.

"I want to do something dealing with children, maybe in pediatrics or in a counseling center," she said.

The future will take care of itself for Hart. Her track career is more immediate and is just now blossoming. Inspired by her parents' personal trainer Kevin Jordan and private track coach Tony Miller, Hart is focused on her track career. Miller was a finalist in the U.S. Olympic trials.

"He knows how to run the 400," Hart said of Miller. "He said 'I run like him' so it will be easy for him to teach me how to run so I can go as far as I can go. Hopefully, I can make it to the Olympics."

Hart came to Rowlett a talented basketball player but gave it up her senior year in order to direct all her energies to track. She leaves with many accolades and with an important lesson learned.

"When I first came to this school, I thought I had to be in the 'in-crowd,' and sit at the same table at lunch," she said. "When I became an upper-classman I found that none of that matters as long as you have friends that care about you."

Managing Editor

Daren Watkins

303 N. Galloway Street

Mesquite, TX 75149

Phone: (972) 285-6301

Fax: (972) 801-3281

daren.watkins@scntx.com

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