National Athlete of the Month | Shalonda Solomon | December 2011

Event: Sprints
Born: December 19, 1985 in Los Angeles, Calif.
High School: Long Beach Poly (Calif.) ‘04
College: South Carolina '08

Career Highlights: 2011 USA Outdoor champion; 2010 USA Outdoor runner-up; 2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 200m Champion; 2005 NCAA Indoor 4x400m Champion; 2006 NACAC 200m and 4x100m gold medalist; 2006 NACAC 100m runner-up; 2006 and 2010 USA Outdoor 200m runner-up; 10-Time All-American; 2004 World Junior 200m and 4x100m champion; 2003 Pan Am Junior 100m, 200m and 4x100m champion; 2003 Junior 100m and 200m champion

Solomon is in the midst of the most successful season of her career. At the 2011 USA Outdoor Championships, Solomon ran a personal best of 22.15 in the 200m to win her first national title and qualify for her first World Championships. In 2010, she was the runner-up at USA Outdoors in the 200m and was ranked third in the world in the event. While competing at the University of South Carolina, Solomon was a two-time NCAA champion in the 200m and represented Team USA at the 2006 NACAC U-23 Championships, where she won gold in the 200m and 4x100m. In 2006, Solomon also finished second at USA Outdoors in the 200m, her first time on top of the podium at the national championships. At the 2004 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships, Solomon ran 22.82 seconds in the women’s 200m to better the championship record and win her first World Junior 200m crown. She then went on to anchor Team USA’s 4x100m relay to a gold medal finish in 43.49…At the 2003 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Solomon was named co-Verizon Women’s Outstanding Athlete of the Meet for completing the sprint double in winning the 100m and the 200m…Solomon broke the Pan American Junior Championships record in the women’s 200m ran 23.21 in the preliminary round. She later improved her record to 22.93 in the final round to win gold in the 200m. Solomon also brought home the gold with her 11.35 second win in the 100m and anchored the 4x100m team to victory in 44.00. Solomon was named the 2003-2004 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year.

2011: USA Outdoor champion in 200m (22.15)... 3rd in 60m at USA Indoor Champs (7.15)... 3rd in 200m at Adidas Grand Prix (23.03)... 3rd a Monaco (22.63)... 3rd at London Grand Prix (22.85).

2010: USA Outdoor runner-up in 200m (22.47)…4th at USA Indoors (7.20iPR)…2nd at Continental Cup (11.09)…2nd at GT Invite in 100m (11.16)…2nd at Clermont (10.90PR)…6th at Monaco (11.14)…1st at GT Invite in 200m (22.67)…4th at Kingston in 200m (22.84)…2nd at Paris (22.55)…2nd at Stockholm (22.51)…1st at Reebok Boston Indoor Games (23.53i)…ranked #3 in the world, #2 U.S.at 200m and #8 in the world, #4 U.S. at 100m by T&FN…bests of 10.90 and 22.47.

2009: 6th at USA Outdoors (11.03), DNF in 200m…2nd in 200m (22.43) 1st in B race at Reebok Grand Prix (11.04PR)…3rd at Adidas Track Classic (23.10)…1st at Bush Invite (22.41)…ranked #5 at 200m in the U.S. by T&FN…best of 22.41.

2008: 7th in 200m (22.36w), 14th in 100m semi-finals at Olympic Trials (11.18)...bests of 11.16 and 22.48.

2007: 3rd at SECs (22.88), 1st in heats (22.74)…1st at Greensboro (11.33)…best of 11.33 and 22.74.

2006: USA Outdoor 200m runner-up, 8th in 100m (22.47, 11.41)…NACAC 200m and 4x100m champions, 100m runner-up (22.90, 11.39)…NCAA Outdoor 200m champion, 5th in 100m (22.62, 11.43)…NCAA East Regional 100m and 200m champion (11.07w, 22.30w)…200m SEC Champion, 3rd in 100m (22.36, 11.09)…ranked #8 in the world (#5 U.S.) at 200m by T&FN…bests of 11.09 and 22.36.

2005: 7th in 200m at USA Outdoors (22.95)…NCAA Outdoor 200m and 4x100m runner-up (22.86)…NCAA Indoor 4x400m champion, 5th in 200m (3:30.01, 23.15)…3rd in 100m and 200m at NCAA East Regionals (11.44, 22.91)…SEC Outdoor 200m champion, 100m runner-up (22.74, 11.29)…1st in 200m at Tennessee (22.72)…ranked #9 in the U.S. at 200m by T&FN…bests of 11.29, 22.72.

2004: World Junior 200m and 4x100m champion (22.82, 43.49)…USA Junior 200m runner-up, 3rd in 100m (23.03, 11.36)…bests of 11.41and 22.82.

2003: Pan Am Junior 100m, 200m and 4x100m champion (11.35, 22.93, 44.00)…USA Junior 100m and 200m champion (11.40, 23.37)…bests of 11.35 and 22.93.