By: Treyaun Fulton
“Work hard in silence and let your work speak for itself.”
Javonte Lipsey’s performance both on and off the track does just that. As a Varsity Track and Field captain, Lipsey has earned his share of countless accolades.
The seven time Atlantic Coast Conference Champion, 2012 Olympic Trial Qualifier, eight time All ACC honors recipient, four time All American, 2014 UNC break through athlete of the year, four time UNC Hall of Famer and World Championship Trial Qualifier still has a few more goals he wants to accomplish.
“I want to be one of the top 600 runners in the world and one of the best hurdlers in the nation. I also want to beat the school record for the 400 hurdles”, said Lipsey. This goal shouldn’t be too hard for the standout to accomplish, as he’s currently barely a second behind it.
Lipsey exudes his high achieving attitude both on the field and off the field.
By keeping his mantra “grades are always top priority,” Lipsey is a routine member of the Dean’s list. He was also awarded the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Ever the planner, Lipsey structures his life with tokens of advice he always keeps on his mind. “Motivate through self-example. Actions speak louder than words. Show people benefits of your work. Work hard and if people like what they see, hopefully they’ll follow.”
With these thoughtful tokens Lipsey constantly strives to be a positive role model in all aspects of his life.
“As a black athlete at a predominantly white institution, I feel responsible for being a good role model on and off the track.” Lipsey’s community involvement proves that he is indeed the epitome of excellence both on and off the field. He recently worked at an EXXON Mobil Science Camp, which aims to enrich minority youth in the areas of STEM.
How he does all of these activities and maintains an extensive exercise plan is beyond anyone’s belief. With a stacked schedule that begins at sunrise, Lipsey is constantly on the go.
“I wake up at 6 a.m. and go to practice. Then at 6:45 a.m., we have strength workouts. Following this is the fueling station, then class and the training room at 2 p.m. Later I have therapy for my Achilles and back injury. We participate in team workouts with our coach from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Afterwards it’s time for homework and studying.”
Though most people would be discouraged after experiencing a back and Achilles injury, Lipsey is not. He doesn’t push his therapy aside; instead he fully embraces it as part of his journey to continued success.
“Many track careers end due to those type of injuries, therefore I learned to stay patient with the process. I had to sit out a year, and I learned there’s a reward in staying enthusiastic. You determine your own destiny. When you truly learn about patience, it gives you sight to see the big picture.”
How does one have such a positive attitude in spite of dreary circumstances? Lipsey credits his parents for shaping him into the person he is today. “I’m forever grateful for my parents and God. My dad is such a hard worker. With that in mind he established that mindset in me.”
Though his parents and faith are his main sources of inspiration, Lipsey also admires others as viable role models. Others inspire him in the same manner he seeks to inspire people.
“I also admire professional track athlete Felix Sanchez. We met two years ago, and he’s a role model for me in so many ways. He also experienced an injury just like me, but he came back from the Olympics as a winner of two gold medals in 2004.”
Lipsey plans on continuing his life of high standards and excellence after he graduates from UNC.
“Ten years from now, I hope to be at my second Olympic appearance and to be in my prime. I also want to establish my own fitness facilities, create a social media app for motivational media and publish a motivational autobiography.”
With Lipsey’s track record of excellence, all of these goals are well within his reach.
