Pierce County High standout Alexus Shaw now sits among the track elite in school history. Shaw, a junior, claimed the state crown in the women’s 300-meter hurdles May 9 at the Class AAA State Track Meet in Albany, Georgia. The daughter of Darlene and Anthony Grant, Shaw is just the third female track athlete in PCHS history to win an individual title.
“It was very nerve-wracking. I was stressed the whole day,” said Shaw. “I talked myself out of it, and then Coach (Robbie) Spires talked me back into it. I didn’t think I had the potential to win a state title. I thought I had a lot of people ahead of me.”
Shaw bested the field in 44.65 seconds, establishing a personal record.
“Lex beat the next person by 15 yards,” said Spires. “I just told her she is as good as anyone else – fully capable, a good athlete – and that she needed to show out. And she did.”
The championship brings validation for Shaw, who bypassed basketball this past year to get more track time. “It was hard to give up on my teammates, knowing they were there and it was their senior year, it hurt,” said Shaw.
One of Shaw’s former court mates – older sister NeNe – was on hand to witness the championship moment. “NeNe is the reason I ran track,” said the younger Shaw. “In middle school, I saw her run, and it made me want to run. Even when she is off at college (West Georgia), NeNe texts me things like ‘good luck’ and ‘give it your all’.”
Shaw earned the coveted position of lane four in the Thursday preliminary and again in Saturday’s finals. Spires said her pupil showcased much better leg kick than the nearest competitor and the champion-to-be got out of the blocks low and hard.
“Lex had the best start that she’s had all year, and by the second hurdle she always knows by her steps if she’s where she needs to be or not,” said Spires. “She just kept overtaking them, and by the straightaway, she had it conquered.”
Shaw competed in five events at the state meet, but Spires had a premonition about the 300 hurdles and advised the sprinter not to expend herself in the 400-meter sprint. Shaw finished eighth in the 400-meter prelims and fifth place in the triple jump, posting personal records in both. She also competed in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays alongside Phila Bryant, Kimberly Gray, and Keara Clark. PCHS took 12th and ninth places, respectively, in those events.
For all her success, Shaw is quick to share the credit.
“My grandaddy, Johnny Mitchell, is my support system,” Shaw says. “He is at every race and every practice. My parents – if they can’t make it, they’ll send me text messages. And Mama always brings my banana. Then Coach Spires – she always pushes me. With me not doing basketball this year, I wasn’t in shape at all. Coach said ‘if you continue to slack off and try to live off last year’s success (third place at state in 300 hurdles), you will not win.’”
Now Shaw is on the radar with several Division I colleges, but she says it will be tough finding the right fit for her desired major – physical therapy. First though, she’ll run some events this summer in Atlanta for USA Track. After that comes the task of repeating as a champion.
“This year, the goal was to win it,” Shaw says. “Next year, the goal will be to break the state record.”
Special Feature
Alexus Shaw
Pierce County High School
Alexus Shaw: Pierce County’s State Track Champion
By John DuPont
