AKEIA JOYNER MAUMELLE

Akeia Joyner
Akeia Joyner

Akeia Joyner’s final race as a high school athlete was her sweetest.

Joyner did not win the 400 meters at the Meet of Champs — in fact her effort was only good for fifth place — but the Maumelle High School senior did set a personal best by breaking the one-minute barrier.

At a glance

AKEIA JOYNER

SCHOOL Maumelle

GRADE-POINT AVERAGE 4.169

CLASS RANK 3 of 259

SPORTS Cross country, track and field

COLLEGE UALR

MAJOR Nursing

NOTEWORTHY Born Dec. 19, 1997. … Daughter of Samuel and Latasha O’Neal and Nathaniel Joyner. … Member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Partners’ Club. Helped with the Special Olympics. … Earned all-state honors in track and field in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is a four-time state champion in four relay events.

“I had been close all year,” Joyner said. “But I would just miss and be so disappointed. … When I saw my time [59.8] at the Meet of Champs, it was the best feeling in the world.”

Joyner’s ultimate goal is help other people feel better and plans to major in nursing at UALR .

“I do love to help people,” Joyner said. “That’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little girl.”

Joyner said she originally wanted to get into obstetrics and gynecology, but admitted she didn’t know if she wanted to continue her education for an extended period of time. It is, however, an option to explore.

“My sister and I used the watch the Discovery Health Channel, and there were all of these labor and delivery shows,” Joyner said. “It always sparked an interest in me. I wanted to help bring a new life into the world.”

Joyner also said she enjoys being part of a team. Maumelle’s 1,600-meter relay team set a Class 4A state mark of 4:06.10 in 2014.

“I like the thrill of being a part of a team like that,” said Joyner, who ran the opening leg. “It wasn’t just one person. No one hogged the spotlight. It was everybody doing their part. … Our coach kept telling us we were capable, but we had no clue we could do that. I was amazed.”

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