Seven-time state champion Ashleigh Ivory signs with UAB
As her high school career comes to an end, Demopolis High’s Ashleigh Ivory walks away with a total of seven state championships between indoor and outdoor track and field. Taking her talent to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ivory becomes the second consecutive track athlete at Demopolis High in two years to sign with an NCAA Division I program. Throughout her five years of running, Ivory has experienced tremendous success, winning at least one state championship for each of the past four years.
Her success began as a freshman who, at first, did not have a single intention of running track. “I was playing softball when I was in eighth grade and my mom told me to give track a try,” Ivory noted. As she decided to give it a shot her ninth grade year, that one try quickly turned into a state championship as Ivory, along with Nykeria Grayer, Shy’shawna Smith, and Yasmein Rainey claimed their first of what would be two state championships in the 4×100 meter relay with Ke’shunda Walker replacing Grayer in 2016.
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vory’s success continued when she started a new event, hurdles. “I really didn’t have a say in me doing hurdles. Coach Boykin just suggested that I do it to help with points,” Ivory stated. “But my biggest challenge that I’ve faced all four years would have to be getting over my fear of hurdles.”
By facing this fear, Ivory picked up three more state championships including one for indoor. Her state championship medal count increases to five with two state medals in 100 meter hurdles (2016 and 2018) and indoor 60 meter hurdles in 2018.
Not only has Ivory dominated in running events, but she also racked up two medals this year with one indoor and one outdoor in long jump. These two, along with her running events, made her the perfect candidate to join the UAB all women’s track team.
When asked about whether she was afraid of college, Ivory replied “I’m not really afraid of college itself, but I am kind of afraid of having to start over with meeting people and creating new bonds.”
Another transition that Ivory will have to face will be going from a coed track team to one that is all women. But this change makes Ivory that much more excited and optimistic about this new chapter in her career. “With UAB only being a girls’ team, they really bond a lot, and they don’t play around. They actually mean business,” Ivory said as she recalled her tour to her future university.
Not only being drawn in by the track program, Ivory noted that the esteemed College of Business at UAB also pulled her in and was a reason for deciding to continue her running career there. As she leaves behind an incredible legacy at Demopolis High, she leaves those wishing to continue their track career after high school with one piece of advice, “Just stay committed and be dedicated, because even if you fail one time, you can still always succeed.”