Raider track star commits to Shaw University to run track

Richmond Senior High School track star Isis Covington committed to run track at Shaw University, located in Raleigh, N.C., during a signing ceremony at the high school on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

Isis Covington signs to attend Shaw University with her mother and grandfather at her side.

Covington competed in several track events this season, including the indoor 55m, 300m, and 4×200 relay and the outdoor 100m, 200m, and the 4×100 and 4×200 relays.

Covington recently competed in the NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional Track Meet and came up shy of going to the state championship by .31 seconds. Although disappointed to not complete her dream to medal at the state championships, Covington is excited about her next journey to run for the Shaw University Bears.

Covington said it was the right choice to pick Shaw University to continue her education and track career.

“It felt like the right place in my heart to go to Shaw,” she said. “My dreams are to graduate college and compete in the Olympics. I can make those dreams a reality at Shaw.”

Reggie Miller, the Raider head track coach, said he was no stranger to the Covington family before he met Isis.

In 2018, Miller had her sister, Destiny, on the Raider cross-country team as a senior.

“She told me she had a sister that was fast, and she was interested in running track,” he said about the inside information on the future of Raider track.

Natalie Covington, the mother of Isis and Destiny, said after the ceremony that track has been a blessing to her family.

“It’s in our bloodline; it’s what we do,” she said. “It was only right that Isis follows in her big sister’s footsteps. She just so happened to be a little bit faster than Destiny.”

Natalie is extremely proud of both girls and their accomplishments as Richmond Raiders.

The next year, Covington was running with the indoor track team and started the outdoor track season before the pandemic shut the season down.

“I saw shades of how great she was going to be even though our season was cut short,” he said.

Miller said Covington was special.

“She works hard, and she is committed to track,” he said. “Isis is a great all-around student-athlete.  She is one of the best athletes I have ever coached.”

Being an athlete who goes on to college on a scholarship is more about education and less about the sport during high school.

“Education always comes first in my family,” Covington said. “Grades first. Track second.”

Miller said education helps a person to get knowledge and improve confidence in life, and open opportunities for careers and personal growth.

“An educated person can become a great citizen in society. It helps you to make the right decisions in life,” he said. “Education shows us the importance of hard work and, at the same time, helps us grow and develop. Thus, we are able to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations.”

Miller tells his athletes that they must have a balance between school and sports by keeping a schedule, staying on task with their schoolwork, and maintaining good grades.

Miller said Covington understood the assignment.

“Making good grades is important in being a student-athlete because colleges will not offer you a scholarship if you don’t maintain an above-average GPA or make a qualifying score on the college entrance exam,” Miller said.

Covington checked all the blocks and had several choices to continue her track career while getting a college education.

“Being in the Olympics is my next big goal after college,” she said. “I will have to put in the hard work in the classroom and on the track to make that a reality.”

Natalie said she has raised her girls to understand the importance of education.

“It’s a big thing in our family,” she said. “We take pride in ourselves, our accomplishments, and our schoolwork. We may not be the best, but we try our best every day to be and do better.”

Assistant track coach John Rich said Covington would be a force to be reckoned with at Shaw University and said he is glad to have coached and helped her grow as an athlete during this season.

“Proud of her is an understatement,” he said. “She is an amazing student-athlete and a fierce competitor. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her this year.”