The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, the 5-foot-5 senior won two individual titles and ran the second leg on two winning relay quartets at the Class 7A meet this past season, leading the Lions second place as a team. Simon broke the state record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.52 seconds, which is tied for the nation’s fourth-fastest time by a prep girl in the event this spring. She also broke the tape in the 200-meter dash in 23.78, which ranked as the nation’s No. 21 wind-legal clocking. The teen missed out on her fourth state title in the long jump, finishing third with a leap of 18 feet, 9.5 inches, but she led the 4x100 relay foursome to a state title in 45.79 and helped the 4x400 squad set a state record with a time of 3:44.28, which ranked No. 17 in the nation among high school teams this spring. The Lions’ 4x100 squad ripped off a 45.79 at states, the nation’s No. 11 time in 2018. Simon was named MVP of the state meet.
Simon has maintained a 91.86 average in the classroom and has signed a national letter of intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at the University of Texas beginning this fall.
A member of the Desire to Inspire Mentoring Group, Simon has donated her time to the Special Olympics. She also serves with the HOSA international student organization carrying out its two- fold mission to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all.
