WHEREAS, Nia Ali was a high school standout in Philadelphia track and field, running for national powerhouse West Catholic High School. In her senior year, she transferred to Pleasantville High School in New Jersey, where she continued her winning ways. As a high school senior, she was ranked top in the nation in two indoor hurdle events by Track & Field News and was named to the All-USA Today Girls Track & Field Team. At the 2006 Nike Indoor High School National Championships, she set the Nike Indoor Nationals 60-meter hurdles record; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, while running for the University of Southern California, Ali won the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.63 seconds. In 2013, she won the World University Games Championships in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.85 seconds, claiming the title of the world’s best collegiate hurdler; and
WHEREAS, Ali finished third in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2013 USA Outdoors Championships with a time of 12.48 seconds, placing her in the top echelon of American hurdlers and advancing her to the World Championships in Moscow as a member of Team USA; and
WHEREAS, In 2014 Ali finally cemented her status as one of the best hurdlers in the world by capturing titles in the 60-meter hurdles at the USA Indoor Championships and World Indoor Championships. At the latter event, in Sopot, Poland, she recorded a time of 7.80 seconds; and
WHEREAS, On March 18, 2016 the 27-year-old Philadelphia native Ali ran a victory lap with her 9-month-old son, Titus, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland after winning her second world indoor title in the 60-meter hurdles, recording a time of 7.81 seconds; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is proud to have raised a world champion like Nia Ali. This two-time world champion balances the responsibilities of motherhood with the training regimen of an elite athlete. She has also overcome other obstacles off the track, including the tragic death of her father in 2009. The resilience she displays as an athlete and a human being should serve as inspiration to all Philadelphians who face hurdles on their way to success; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and honor two-time World Champion Nia Ali for winning the 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Nia Ali, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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