Sharika Nelvis

Nelvis was born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 10, 1990. She had a difficult childhood; both of her parents died before she'd turned eight, and after her grandmother had a stroke Nelvis was taken in by an aunt and separated from three of her four siblings. Nelvis took up track and field in sixth grade, competing first in the sprints and then also the hurdles and the long jump; ==Collegiate career==

After graduating from high school, Nelvis briefly attended Southwest Mississippi Community College, but found it did not suit her; she left almost immediately and transferred to Arkansas State University, having been recruited by its assistant track coach, fellow Memphis native Jason Brooks. In 2011, she was named the Sun Belt Conference's top freshman both indoors and outdoors. In 2014, her senior year, Nelvis developed into America's top collegiate hurdler. She became NCAA indoor champion in the 60 m hurdles (7.93) and outdoor champion in the 100 m hurdles (12.52w), both times defeating a field that included Jasmin Stowers. she was also short-listed for the Bowerman, but lost to middle-distance runner Laura Roesler of Oregon. ==Professional career==

Nelvis started competing as a professional in 2015. After losing her first race she remained unbeaten during the 2015 indoor season, winning seven consecutive races; her winning time in Malmö (7.83) was her personal best and the fastest time in the world that winter, one-hundredth of a second ahead of Stowers. Outdoors, Nelvis made her Diamond League debut in Doha, placing second to Stowers in a personal best 12.54. Nelvis entered the national outdoor championships as one of the favorites, and won her heat in a world-leading 12.34 (+1.9); the time moved her up to seventh on the world all-time list and third on the national all-time list. She also led the field in the semi-finals (12.37); in the final she only placed third in 12.59, and made the American team at 2015 US Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the World Championships in Beijing by one-hundredth of a second. Nelvis won her first US title in the women's 60 metres hurdles with a time of 7.70 at 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships where she set the NACAC & American record and earned a spot on Team USA at 2018 Birmingham World Championships where she placed 4th in 7.86. ==References==