DeYanna Parker '19 Recruiting Profile

       In 7th grade, I joined the track team at Heritage Middle School. I was so nervous going to practice on the first day, being that I had never ran track or against people that I didn't know. So as the season went on, at practice, my coach always made me run with 8th graders. At our first meet my coach had me running the 100, 4x1 (anchor), and 4x2 (anchor). I won 1st place in the 100, 4x1 and 2nd in the 4x2. For that entire season I was always either 1^st or 2^nd. At this point I realized I had potential. Once 8th grade came I wasn't as good due to the fact that I had Pneumonia for the beginning of the season. When I started running for Shaw in the 9th grade I regained my confidence and adrenaline. For the entire season I remained undefeated in the 100m dash at all duel meets. I realized that I had speed. The simple fact that I was beating seniors and competing against people that had been running longer than me. Running next to a state champion was a major eye opener. Even though I didn’t beat her but the fact that I made it far enough to run against her made me realize that I was swift.

      When running for Shaw a lot of people underestimate you, one of the reasons being that we don’t have a track. Running without a track is not easy at all. I’m constantly taking chances with injuries because of this, but it makes me a stronger runner. It makes me appreciate it when I go to meets and actually compete on that turf, knowing that the day before at practice, I was running on concrete and rocks. People tend to ask me “how can I run with asthma” or “how can I run so fast with asthma” and my answer is just this “asthma makes me no different from any other runner. I still work just as hard if not harder than any other runner because I know I have something to prove. Sure I have to take medication or sometimes have to take a small break to slow down my breathing, but no one is going to go easy on me just because of asthma.” Running actually helps me control my asthma.

        When I run I think about my life, and that this what I want to do with it. I love to run and it makes me happy. By my senior year I will have gotten my times down to the 11s in the 100 and the 23s in the 200. As far as my goals in college, I want to be completing my BSN in nursing. As far as my track career I see myself preparing for the Olympics.