WHEREAS, Nia Sifaatihii Ali was born on October 23, 1988 to Melita Johnson and Aleem Ali. Nia Ali was raised in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, where she began her award-winning track career at a young age. Ali ran youth track under the United Age Group Track Club Association, as well as in an eight and under group at the Mallory Track Club; and
WHEREAS, Ali trained and ran at many Philadelphia Parks and Recreation facilities, where her record stands unbroken in numerous events. She attended West Catholic Preparatory High School in the University City section of Philadelphia until her senior year. While at West Catholic, Ali was a superior student athlete who participated in track, basketball and softball; and
WHEREAS, In her senior year of high school Ali moved to Pleasantville, New Jersey and attended Pleasantville High School. During her senior year, Ali was ranked number one in the nation in two indoor hurdles events by Track & Field News. She also was named in the Top Ten USA Juniors; and
WHEREAS, Ali graduated from Pleasantville High School in 2006. After high school, she attended the University of Tennessee, where she won the Southeastern Conference Heptathlon Championship with a two-day score of 5,490. In her sophomore year, she transferred to the University of Southern California, where she majored in Psychology and joined the USC Trojan’s Women’s Track and Field team; and
WHEREAS, During her college career, Ali displayed impeccable strength, overcoming many of life’s obstacles and hurdles. She sat out the 2010 season, but came back stronger than ever. In 2011, Ali placed fourth at the National College Athletic Association Championships in the heptathlon with a score of 5,824; and
WHEREAS, Ali’s track and field career continued to excel after she graduated from USC in 2011. In 2013, Ali finished third at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to secure her spot in Moscow for her first World Championship in Athletics. In 2014, Ali won gold at the World Indoor Championships in Poland; and
WHEREAS, On August 17, 2016, Ali won the silver medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles final at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Ali’s win was a part of a USA sweep in the event, with Brianna Rollins winning gold and Kristi Castlin winning bronze. It was the first time that a single country had swept the event since hurdles became an Olympic sport in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Nia Ali’s accomplishments throughout her prominent career in track and field have made her fellow Philadelphians extremely proud and emphasizes the need for an indoor track facility in Philadelphia
;
now, therefore, be it,
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honors Philadelphia native Nia Ali on winning the silver medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles final at the 2016 Olympic Games.
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