Returning state qualifier in the shot, Northwest track standout Aaliyah Shelby is not only looking to leave her mark in shot this year, but she has picked up a new event for 2021.

“I’ve been competing in shot put and this year, I just started to compete in javelin,” said Shelby. “In shot put, my personal best is 33’ 7.5. In javelin, my personal best is 80’ 4.5.”

Shelby started competing in track events when she was in the seventh grade and loved it. Now a member of the varsity team, Shelby is one of the top competitors for Northwest High School.

A former basketball player, Shelby also excels in the classroom and is a member of National Honor Society. She said the track team is made up of great athletes and students who support one another.

“I love that my team gets along really well, and we all support each other inside and outside of practice,” said Shelby. “I enjoy being a student athlete at Northwest because no matter what sport you play or what you do, you can always count on having some type of support.  Academics are very important to me because it will help me in the future the most and it is something I’ll have forever. After I graduate, I plan to attend Kansas University and major in Biological Sciences.”