Nia Ali

Bio:
USA Championships
2014 USA Indoor 60mH champion (7.80)
Third place at 2013 USA Outdoors (12.48)

International Championships
2014 World Indoor 60mH champion (7.80)
2011 World University Games Champion (12.85)

Collegiate Championships
2011 NCAA Outdoor Champion (12.63)

About Nia
Ali has overcome many hurdles both on and off the track to become one of the top 100m hurdlers in the world. In 2014 Ali finally cemented herself as one of the best in the worldby capturing 60mH titles at the USA Indoor Championships and World Indoor Championships in Sopot. Ali was an all-around athlete in high school where she ran track, played basketball and softball and placed in the top-ten at USA Juniors as a high school senior. She attended the University of Tennessee her freshman year and won the SEC heptathlon title; however, the self-proclaimed city-girl had trouble adapting to the laidback lifestyle in Knoxville. After transferring to USC for her sophomore year, continued to excel both as a hurdler and heptathlete. But in 2009, Ali’s life was rocked by the news that her father died in a murder-suicide back home in Philadelphia. Ali credits USC assistant Dr. Tommie White with helping her to overcome her struggles with the tragedy and come back stronger than ever. After sitting out the 2010 season, Ali returned in 2011 to win the NCAA and World University Titles. In 2013, Ali finished third at USA Outdoors to secure her spot in Moscow for her first World Championships.

Events & Rankings:Results
2014: 1st at USA Indoors (7.80); 1st at World Indoors (7.80); 6th at Rome (13.26); 6th at adidas Grand Prix (13.03); 8th at USA Outdoors (13.16); 6th at Glasgow (13.02)
2013: 3rd in semifinal heat at World Outdoors (12.83); 6th at Monaco (12.79); 4th at Lausanne (12.63); 3rd at USA Outdoors (12.48); 9th at Rome (13.22); 1st at Ponce (12.86); 8th at Drake Relays (13.09); 1st at USA Indoors 60mH (7.93); 5th at Millrose Games 60mH (8.08); 3rd at New Balance Indoor GP 60mH (8.11)
2012: 7th at London (13.05); 8th at Olympic Trials (13.02); 4th at Daegu (13.05); 4th at Doha (12.93)
2011: 4th at Brussels (12.79); 1st at World University Games (12.85); 6th at London (13.04); 6th at Monaco (12.98); 5th at USA Outdoors (12.86); 1st at NCAA Outdoors 100mH (12.63), 6th in high jump (1.80m/5-10.75); 1st at Pac-10 Outdoors 100mH (12.77), 2nd in high jump (1.86m/6-1.25)
2010: Did not compete
2009: 4th at NCAA Outdoors heptathlon (5824); 3rd at Pac-10 Outdoors 100mH (13.52), 7th in high jump (1.70m/5-7), 3rd at Pac-10 Multis heptathlon (5681)
2008: 2nd in prelim heat of NCAA Outdoors 100mH (13.24); 4th at NCAA Indoors 60mH (8.21)
2007: 1st at SEC Outdoors heptathlon (5490); 6th at NCAA Indoors 60mH (8.17)
2006: 4th at USA Juniors 100mH (13.55)

USA/World Rankings and Personal Bests 
2014: Indoor bests -- 60m (7.43); 60m hurdles (7.80); Outdoor bests --100m hurdles (12.89) 
2013: Indoor bests -- 60m hurdles, 7.93 (No. 3 in the USA, No. 4 in the World); Outdoor bests -- 100m hurdles, 12.48 (No. 3 in the USA, No. 3 in the World)