TicketsApril 26, 2012
By Shawn Sell
The mark of a good collegiate student-athlete is showing improvement each year. From where she sits today, Bearcat junior Shanay Portis fits the bill. But thanks to a strong work ethic and natural talent, the "good" could become "great" before her career comes to a close.
Growing up in Springfield, Ohio, some 80 miles northeast of Cincinnati, Portis was a pretty typical top high school athlete. A highly decorated track and field athlete, Portis also excelled at basketball and made a name for her self on the recruiting trails, particularly amongst track and field coaches. After visiting several schools, Portis decided on Cincinnati in large part due to the family atmosphere she felt with her future teammates.
"When I was visiting a lot of schools, I never really felt a connection when I met the team and that everyone accepted me," she says. "When I went a couple other places, it felt like the jumpers hung (out) with the jumpers and the throwers with the throwers. But here I felt like everyone was integrated and it felt like a family. It just felt like it was for me more than any other place."
About the time Portis arrived on UC's campus prior to the 2010 season, so to did new assistant coach Kris Mack, following a successful tenure as an assistant at Stanford. From the beginning, Mack liked what he saw in Portis.
"I could always tell there was something in her," he says. "On my first day of practice when I arrived on campus, she reminded me a lot of many of the All-Americans I had worked with at Stanford and some other places. She has that special something, the mindset, the attitude. She is a hard worker and a blessing to have on the team."
As a freshman, Portis found her share of success, particularly in the relays, helping UC squads to three top-five BIG EAST finishes between indoor and outdoor competition. A year later, Portis' achievements grew as she earned several top finishes at the All-Ohio Championships and a share of a BIG EAST relay championship. To assistant coach Chris Wineberg, who along with Mack, share the duties of coaching Portis, her rapid improvement is not all that surprising.
"Shanay was a good sprinter and long jumper in high school," he says. "She came here and did a nice job her freshman and sophomore year, but has really gotten serious and taken it to the next level this year and has become a big time athlete for our team. She has developed really nicely and has become one of those athletes you can't do without on your team anymore."
To back up Wineberg's statement of the value Portis brings to her team, a look at the results from last weekend's All-Ohio Championships will do the trick. In helping her team to a second straight team title at the event all Portis did was win the 200 meters, earn runner-up in the 100 meters and place fourth in the long jump. Throw in running a leg in the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relays and Portis brought quite a bit to the table in one meet alone.
"She just brings the complete package," Wineberg says. "She does her short sprints well, her long sprints well and has turned into a really good long jumper. She is a team leader and captain and she comes to work hard every single day. If there is one person that represents our program, Shanay is probably that person."
Part of the package that Portis brings in addition to her on track attributes is leadership. As a team captain this year, Portis not only walks the walk, she also talks the talk as a vocal leader and inspiration for her teammates. It's not a role that she isn't used to.
"I grew up being pretty outspoken. In high school, everyone knew I wasn't afraid to put you in your place," she says with a laugh. "I've just always had that leadership quality I think. I was a captain in high school also for track and basketball. I just want to try to motivate everyone to do their best. I don't want anyone walking around with their heads down or giving up. I just try to bring positive energy to the team."
"Shanay is a great team leader, she leads by example, both on and off the track," Mack adds. "She gets people riled up at practice and she isn't always just focusing on herself, but also making sure the others in the jumps group are progressing as well."
Part of what makes Portis so successful stems from one simple factor that drives her--passion. No matter her age, no matter the sport, Portis is passionate about being the best. It is a trait that her coaches feel could take her big places.
"I grew up playing basketball and running track. I've played basketball just as long as I ran track," she says. "But mainly, (track) was just a passion for me. Back at home, everyone knew the Portis' were always fast. Growing up, I always wanted to race, but often I was too young to compete with my sister. I would watch the Olympics and running was just what I wanted to do. Basketball was always a great passion for me too, but track just kind of took over."
"Shanay definitely is goal-oriented and knows what she wants to achieve," Mack adds. "She wants to be at nationals and go on to the next level in track and field. Usually, the people with that sort of passion will find a way. She works through all of her obstacles very well and finds her way back to the top. I see things going well for her in the future."