MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Baria, Watson, Barker, Byrd, DeLano, Johnson (87th), Pigott, Staples, Touchstone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING TORI BOWIE FOR HER NUMEROUS ATHLETIC ACCOLADES IN THE SPORT OF TRACK AND FIELD, PARTICULARLY HER GOLD MEDAL IN THE 4X100 METER RELAY, SILVER MEDAL IN THE 100 METER DASH, AND BRONZE MEDAL IN THE 200 METER DASH DURING THE 2016 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL.
WHEREAS, Tori Bowie, the second-fastest woman in the world and a native of Sand Hill, Mississippi, sprinted her way to medaling in three different events during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and
WHEREAS, born on August 27, 1990, Frentorish "Tori" Bowie attended Pisgah High School, where she began her rise to become one of the most elite track athletes in the world, as she won two state championships in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash and the long jump, as well as three state championships in the 4x100 meter relay; and
WHEREAS, Tori's athletic prowess and track accolades landed her a scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she flew down her lanes like the wings of a Golden Eagle in each of her sprint and long jump competitions; and
WHEREAS, during her tenure at Southern Mississippi, Tori, a two-time NCAA champion, soared to new heights in the long jump category, sweeping the titles in the NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship during her junior year in 2011, setting two school records and earning the premier status of NCAA Female Athlete of the Year, and she set high marks at each Conference USA indoor and outdoor meets she participated in; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Tori began competing professionally in track and field, finishing that year as the fifth best long jumper in the United States and held the tenth best jump in the world, and in 2014, she was the long jump runner-up at the 2014 USA Indoor Championships, which earned her a trip to the World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, for the first time in her career; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, Tori placed first at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, first at Baie Mahault Meeting Caraibes Région, first at Clermont NTC Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet, second at Diamond League Shanghai, second at Stockholm, third at the IAAF World Championships, third at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, and third at Zürich; and
WHEREAS, during the 2016 Summer Olympics, Tori arrived hungry for medals and left satisfied, excelling in each category that she participated in, winning bronze in the 200 meter dash, silver in the 100 meter dash, and the coveted, illustrious gold in the 4x100 meter relay race; and
WHEREAS, Tori ran the fourth and final leg of the relay race, and once she was handed the baton, she never looked back, as the fate of her entire team and their gold medal dreams rested on her shoulders, but the pressure did not faze her, as she finished with gusto and her team finished in 41.01 seconds, the second-fastest time ever in that event; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the lives of fine Mississippi athletes, especially those such as Tori Bowie, whose dedication and triumph has inspired all Mississippians, both young and old, to strive for excellence in all facets of their lives, bringing glory and honor to the Sand Hill Community and this great Magnolia State:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Tori Bowie upon her many track and field accomplishments, especially receiving the gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay, the silver medal in the 100 meter dash, and the bronze medal in the 200 meter dash during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and express deepest wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Tori Bowie and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.