BY MADDIE JOINER
FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER
Opelika High School class of 2021 graduate Justin Shorter signed a track and field scholarship to Limestone University Wednesday in the Sports Arena at OHS.
“There is a lot of excitement and nervousness because I didn’t really expect for this to happen,” Shorter said. “I was kind of like speaking it into existence and when the day finally came, just an unbelievable feeling because I worked so hard for so many years.”
Shorter decided to continue his education and athletic career at Limestone because, “they have everything I needed to get better, like dietitians and large weight rooms and coaches who wanted to work with different parts of my running skill and overall make me a better athlete.”
Shorter ran track at Opelika High for all four years of high school, competing in the hurdles and sprints.
His coach, Jimmy Johnson, is very proud of his former track athlete and is excited to see Shorter at the next level.
“It’s always great to see his hard work paid off … that’s my goal, try to get as many kids as I can in college if that’s what they want to do,” Johnson said. “I’m just excited for Justin. Coming in, Justin was one of those kids like ‘Oh my god what are we going to do with this guy? Man, hurdles!’ and now he’s signing a scholarship for something he enjoys doing so I’m elated for him.”
Shorter’s father, Angelo, shares the same feelings of excitement, saying, “Hopefully he takes advantage of this academically as well as athletically and he keeps his feet on the ground and reaches for the stars.”
Limestone University is a private university located in Gaffney, South Carolina. Shorter will start school in August and will be studying criminology and law.
