The 5-foot-7 sophomore won four individual events at the Division 1 state meet this past season, leading the Pandas to the state championship as a team. Balon broke the tape in the 100-meter dash in 12.12 seconds, while also capturing the 200 in 25.33 and the 400 in 57.84. To cap off a 40-point day, she leapt 18 feet, 2.5 inches to win the long jump. At the state Meet of Champions, she won the 100 and 200 and anchored Padua’s victorious 4x400 relay quartet.
Balon has maintained a 3.70 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her junior year of high school this fall.
A student ambassador at her school, Balon has volunteered locally both Gold Star families and mentoring youth track athletes.
