EDINBURG – Sometimes Monica Wesley Swift spends her days seemingly running in circles and jumping hurdles.
 
It's a far cry from her record breaking days doing just that with the track & field program, though, as Swift is now the Student Workforce Connection Liaison for Goose Creek CISD in Baytown. 
 
Swift has only been in the position for a year. Before she was connecting students with the workforce, she was in the Rio Grande Valley for 26 years after graduating from legacy institution The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA), helping to foster the talent of the next generation of kids who, like her, were both academically and athletically gifted. 
 
Ever since Swift was a young girl, you could find her on a track, developing what would be an amazing career. The dedication and determination shown by Swift everyday proved to be enough to push her to the next level. Not only was she exceptionally capable of performing on the track, but her increase in experience revealed that she also had the skill to compete in the triple jump.
 
While attending C.Y. Yoe High School in Cameron, Swift earned Most Valuable Performer every season. Swift drew attention from recruiters with her outstanding performances in regional meets, but never made the state tournament. Still, former track & field head coach Doug Erickson was interested in the talent that Swift had to offer. In 1988, Erickson recruited Swift to compete at what was then known as Pan American University (PAU).
 
"Leaving home and going to the RGV was scary at first," Swift said. "The people were so friendly and welcoming though, so I developed a lot of bonds early on that helped being away from my family."
 
As a freshman in 1989, Swift became the first female student-athlete to qualify for the NCAA Division I National Championships in any sport in department history. Swift's run into the postseason also made her the last student-athlete to compete under the PAU moniker before the institution became UTPA. Additionally, Swift was a finalist for the triple jump in both the 1989 and 1990 USA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. After dominating her first two seasons, Swift earned a Top 12 All-U.S. national ranking and Top 50 All-IAAF world ranking.
 
No matter what was going on with the name of the University, Swift was surely making hers known.
 
"I always hoped for the opportunity to be successful," Swift said, "But nothing compares to the feeling when it actually happens. I was very humbled to be given all the opportunities to compete at this level, with other great individuals as well."
 
Pan Am competed in the American South Conference, and Swift won nine conference championship titles in both the long jump and triple jump during her career. She was a member of the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay teams that set program records. Additionally, Swift set the All-Time program records for the indoor and outdoor long jump and triple jump. 
 
"Above all, being on the track team allowed me to build a family," Swift said. "I always had great teammates and coaches. Being able to travel, compete, meet different people and see different places was an incredible experience, and being on a sports team gave me something I couldn't find anywhere else."
 
Swift earned the 1989 PAU Female Athlete of the Year, the 1991 Ann LaMantia award, and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. Not only did she excel on the track, but Swift also made great strides in the classroom. She was named to the American South Conference Commissioner's List for strong academic performance during her junior and senior seasons. Swift graduated from UTPA with a Bachelor of Business Arts in Marketing in 1991 and a Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in Kinesiology in 1994.
 
"I am still so honored to join the class of individuals that were already inducted into the Hall of Fame," Swift said. "What made it even more special was being inducted with my former coach, Reid Harter."
 
Once her competitive career came to a close, Swift was still part of the track & field community as the head coach of girls varsity track & field and cross country programs at a few different high school across the Rio Grande Valley, including Sharyland and Economedes. Swift served as a Career and Technology Education Instructor before becoming the assistant principle at Sharyland. She also became certified as a Texas Education Agency Professional Development and Appraisal System Educator Evaluator.
 
"I have a business degree in marketing," Swift said, "But being around my coaches and teammates influenced me to go into education, which I never thought I would do. I saw a flyer for a school in the area that needed a coach, so I called."
 
Staying involved with students helps Swift maintain her compassionate personality and share her enjoyment of educating with others. Although life is a little different than when she competed in college, you can still find her doing what she loves most and living life to the fullest everyday with her family.
 
"Don't take anything for granted," Swift said. "No matter what point you are at in life, it's short. Don't wander from opportunities, always work hard, and put your family first. Have your goals and accomplish them. Make the best of life every day."

Support UTRGV Track & Field | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube