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Cannon leaps and bounds above the rest in county
Bruce Matlock
Aisha Cannon was named the North Piedmont Conference runner of the year and field event athlete of the year.
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Published: June 25, 2009
She's the vice president of the Student Council at Mooresville High School. She excels in the classroom with a 4.35 grade-point average. And, in her spare time, she regularly sets school records in track and field.
Is there anything that Aisha Cannon cannot do?
For her exploits in track this year, Cannon has been selected as the R&L County Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
She won the Iredell County meet in the triple jump, the long jump and the 200-meter run. She was also a member of the 800-meter relay team that advanced to the state meet.
Although a very versatile athlete, Cannon realizes that the triple jump is where her greatest strength lies. She has qualified for the state meet in this event three consecutive years and finished third this year.
She already holds the school record in the event and recently extended that mark with an amazing jump of 39 feet, 7 inches.
"I was disappointed earlier this year because I couldn't beat my triple jump record," Cannon said. "Now I know what I'm doing."
Cannon hopes to extend her school triple jump mark to 41 feet at some point during her senior year, a mark that could earn her a state championship.
Mooresville girls track and field coach Dwayne Jackson has high praise for Cannon.
"Aisha is one of the most versatile athletes that I've ever been around," Jackson said. "She can do any event out there better than anyone we have. She could probably run the mile better than anyone if she chose to. She is such a well-rounded athlete. She is exceptionally talented."
Although Cannon is blessed with a lot of natural abilities, it is her strong work ethic that has allowed her to distance herself from the pack.
"Aisha has worked hard for everything she has gotten," Jackson said. "She's the first one at practice and the last one to leave. We have to run her off from practice sometimes so that she won't be overworked."
Boys track coach Brad Baker informed Cannon that she had won the award from the R&L. Rather than resting on her laurels, her desire to be the best kicked in yet again.
"I was excited when I heard about the award," Cannon said. "It makes me want to work even harder to excel next year."
Cannon has dedicated herself this summer to doing just that.
While others are vacationing, she is honing her skills at the Elite Jumps Academy in Charlotte. She is involved in conditioning and weight lifting throughout the week. On weekends she competes in state meets.
Although track is an individual sport in many ways, Cannon has helped mold Mooresville into an elite team.
"When we do drills she always takes an active role as a leader," Jackson said. "She's like an additional coach on the field. She's an overall team leader."
Mooresville will be moving up a classification next year and, despite the tougher competition, Jackson predicts continued success for Cannon in her senior season. "I expect her to excel in the jumps and in whatever other events she decides to be involved in."
In a day and age of arrogant star athletes, Cannon is a refreshing change. She is very self-effacing, choosing to deflect the attention away from herself to others.
Quiet yet confident and genuinely humble, she has a smile that radiates a caring spirit. She is appreciative of all of those who have made an investment in her life.
"I am thankful for all the encouragement and help I get from everyone," Cannon said. "My family runs me around all the time. My coaches stay on me to excel. My teachers push me to do my very best."
Jackson realizes that he is coaching a very special student-athlete.
"Aisha's an outstanding young lady," Jackson said. "She's got an extremely bright future ahead of her. She will have success at anything she tries to do in life."
Mooresville has a rich history in track and field, annually boasting one of the area's elite programs.
Cannon has been instrumental in continuing this legacy.
"When we model a champion, we model them after her," Jackson said. "Because that's what she is, a champion."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For a complete listing of all-county girls track and field team members, see Thursday's print edition of the R&L
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