Four-year varsity veteran Alitta Boyd shines with rare athletic ability
March 17, 2009 • written by Chelsea Sundiang
Senior Alitta Boyd’s storied Moreau career was recognized on February 12th as a loud drum-roll echoed across the Student Center. Friends, family, and schoolmates of Boyd rooted for her signing to the University of Southern California with a full scholarship.
“USC definitely got a joy in and out of the classroom,” said Boyd’s club coach, Margaret Dixon in her speech.
“She’ll make them and especially [Moreau] proud. You deserve this Alitta.” The crowd applauded as Dixon turned her focus away from them and smiled right at Boyd who tried holding in her tears.
Boyd doesn’t plan on stopping with reaching the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), one of the most prestigious student-athlete programs in the United States.
She hopes to participate in the Olympics.
“When I was younger I always had dreams to go the Olympics,” said Boyd. “I wanted to go so I could be in the USA team but I didn’t know what for since there were so many sports to play and I liked all of them!”
Since last year, Boyd decided that her Olympic goal would be set on playing track for the USA team.
Track coach and teacher Enrique Henriquez, who anticipated for Boyd to play track for Moreau when she was in seventh and eighth grade, is now anticipating to witness Boyd accomplish her Olympic track dream.
“I heard a lot about Alitta [back then],” said Henriquez.
“People would be telling me ‘You got a really good athlete coming in for Moreau!’ and I definitely know what they’re talking about now. I won’t be surprised seeing her in the Olympics of 2012 at all.”
“If she keeps doing what she’s doing and stays focused, she’ll make it,” said track coach and Boyd’s mother, Diane Blackwell.
Holding six Mariner records for track and field and earning over 300 medals, it’s no surprise that almost every college in the United States had their eyes on Boyd.
“I would get phone call after phone call of people asking for her,” said athletic director Christine Krisman. “She got more mail sent to the school than I did.”
Playing sports since the first grade, as much as practice makes perfect, Boyd was driven to continue such a passion because of the interaction she receives from the effort she puts in and the people she meets through participating.
“Coach would be in the most serious frame of mind and she could do something to make him laugh,” said teammate senior Stephanie Carnes.
“When we do our cheer before each game Alitta always dances at a certain part and hits the backs of all the players. It’s just really fun to have her and you know she’s going to have your back on and off the court.”
On and off the court, Boyd is also well known for being the humble motivator.
“If she sees that other people aren’t working hard she’ll tell them ‘Step it up. You’re doing good here,’” said teammate senior Nivana Horsely. “She’ll push you to make you better.”
“As long as I’ve been playing with [Alitta] since third or fourth grade, she’s always been a leader,” said longtime friend and teammate senior Kayla Griffin.
Her sense of humor, focus, talent, determination, and such a commitment to athleticism for many years, Boyd has definitely gotten inches closer to the peak of her athletic stardom.
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