Her story
From George Avenue to Sydney, and home again
A girl from the neighborhood, a cousin who believed in her, and a city that cheered her on. Here is how Shakedia got from the 1st Ward to the world, and why she came back.
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Chapter 1Waukegan, the early years
Growing up in Waukegan
Shakedia Jones was born and raised in the 1st Ward of Waukegan, on what she calls the South Side. Growing up, money was tight.
My mom didn't have the money to pay for me to participate in any organized sports until I got to high school.
Translation Mi mamá no tenía dinero para pagarme ningún deporte organizado hasta que llegué a la preparatoria.
Then her cousin Shannon King, himself a Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year, talked her into going out for track. She called him "my angel."
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Chapter 2High school, Class of 1997
High school champion
In high school she won the IHSA outdoor state title in the 100m and the 200m all four years, plus the 400m in 1996. When she graduated from Waukegan High in 1997, those nine IHSA titles were the most in Illinois girls' track history. She also won four indoor state titles in the 60m and four in the indoor 200m, for 17 individual state titles in all.
She was named Gatorade Illinois Girls Track & Field Player of the Year twice, in 1996 and 1997, and the Chicago Tribune's 1997 prep athlete of the year.
Speed was my gift.
Translation La velocidad era mi don.
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Chapter 31998 to 2001
Team USA and UCLA
In 1998 she wore USA colors at the World Junior Championships in Annecy, France: gold in the 100m, gold in the 4x100m relay with an American junior record, and silver in the 200m.
At UCLA from 1998 to 2001 she was the 1998 Pac-10 champion in the 100m and the 4x100m relay, a two-time NCAA team champion (2000 and 2001 indoor), a two-time NCAA runner-up in the 100m and a multiple-time All-American.
In 2000 she was named to the U.S. Olympic Team for Sydney. She earned a B.A. in Sociology at UCLA, competed professionally after college, and later earned an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.
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Chapter 42013 to today
Home for good
She came home to Waukegan for good in 2013. In 2014 she founded Furthering the Lives of Youth (FLY), an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) with a simple mission: "assisting exceptional youth with limited resources."
Young people are nominated and need a 3.2 GPA. FLY has paid volleyball and track fees, bought equipment, bought a first cello for a young Waukegan cellist, sponsored a youth track club team and community track meets, paid for trips (including to Los Angeles), sponsored community trips to Chicago Sky games and co-hosted a backpack giveaway. More than 600 young people have been helped. She says she has helped 20 young people earn athletic scholarships.
She works for Waukegan Public Schools (District 60) as Family and Community Engagement Manager and has coached girls track at Waukegan High School. Titles are for identification only; the district does not endorse candidates.
- Founder, FLY, 2014
- Has coached WHS girls track
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Chapter 5Primary election: February 23, 2027
Running for the 1st Ward
Now she is running for 1st Ward Alderman, in the neighborhood that raised her.
She will bring the habits she has kept her whole life: set the goal, make a plan, do the work, and report back to her neighbors.
General election: April 6, 2027
See her priorities
