Brittni Mason has been in near-constant motion since she started walking. As a child growing up in Northeastern Ohio, she participated in gymnastics and basketball, and she loved to swim and dance. But when her father saw her running around the house one day when she was 10 years old, instead of scolding her, he recognized what has turned out to be his young daughter’s greatest physical gift: speed.

That was the beginning of Mason’s track and field career, a passion that has propelled her to the ranks of the premier sprinters in the Ohio area, the nation, and the world. In 2013–2014, while attending West Geauga High School, she trained with track and field legend and internationally acclaimed track and field coach Charlie Powell at SPIRE IA. As a junior competing for West Geauga’s Wolverines, Mason won the 100m and 200m dash at the conference championships. In her senior year, she was the district, regional and conference champion in the 100m and 200m, earning a spot on the first All-Ohio team.

Mason is now a senior at Eastern Michigan University, a Division 1 school that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). In keeping with NCAA rules, Mason is still able to train with Powell over the summer and during school breaks.

Born with Erb’s palsy, a neuromuscular condition that affects her left shoulder and arm, the SPIRE Local Elite Alum learned in the past year that she was eligible to compete in the World Para Athletics Championship in Dubai. At her first international meet last November, Mason won gold in the women’s 100-meter T47, breaking a world record with a finishing time of 11.89 seconds.

“Brittni has already made the USA Paralympic team who will compete Tokyo in 2021,” said Coach Powell. “She’s qualified for the 100m and 200m and has a shot at being a 400m entrant also.”