By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE — Tammy Mayes had tears in her eyes Monday afternoon as she spoke of her daughter Michelle’s signing with the University of Mobile.

“She deserves it,” said the proud mother. “God has blessed me with such a humble, sweet child. I feel so blessed and so proud of my daughter.”

After a decorated track and field career at Riverside that saw her compete at the Class 2A state track and field meet in all three of her seasons with the team, Michelle Mayes officially signed with Mobile to continue her athletic and academic pursuits.

“I’m very excited,” she said. “I didn’t expect anything like this. I was looking at schools just from the standpoint of continuing my education, but I’m so happy to be able to keep going in track and field.”

Mayes finished third in the 2A state meet in the javelin and discus respectively as a senior while taking sixth in the shot put, helping the Riverside girls team finish seventh overall in the state.  As a junior, she finished third at the state meet in the discus. She competed at the state meet in the javelin as a sophomore in just her first year of track and field competition. 

At Mobile, Mayes will compete in the javelin, discus, shot put and hammer events. 

Mayes was prepared for life after track and field until meeting Mobile coach Andy Canegitta at East St. John’s track and field signing day in May. Mayes will join former ESJ distance runners Bi’shan Caston and Dominique Gray at Mobile. 

Mayes was invited to the signing day by ESJ girls track and field coach Mark Creecy, who worked with her after the prep track season’s conclusion.

“He spent a little time with me helping me refine my technique,” Mayes said. 

“Canegitta met her and loved her, and the rest is history,” Creecy said. “She’s got a lot of natural ability and she’s from good bloodlines. Her dad played football. Her mother I believe was a professional bodybuilder at one time. She’s got good genes and she’s been working hard.”

Mayes competed in Orlando, Fla. over Independence Day weekend at the National Track and Field Club championships and finished second in the javelin.

Riverside girls track and field coach Joseph Trosclair said Mayes simply got better and better through her three years at Riverside.

“It takes a tremendous athlete to accomplish what she did here,” Trosclair said. “It culminated last year with her qualifying for state in three field events. She just worked extremely hard each day and never, ever complained.”

Mayes plans on majoring in kinesiology at Mobile.