50 Years of Title IX: Sharon Day-Monroe - Track & Field
6/15/2022 12:34:00 PM | Track and Field
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX by the United States Congress. In 1972, Congress passed Title IX as part of that year's education amendments. Written by Representative Patsy Mink, Representative Edith Green and Senator Birch Bayh, the law prohibits sex-based discrimination in all schools receiving federal financial assistance. Although the text of the law makes no reference to athletics, it was later determined to encompass all aspects of a school's operations, including intercollegiate sports programs. One study found that, between the implementation of Title IX and 2006, there had been an almost 500% increase in the number of female collegiate athletes.
Sharon Day-Monroe started doing track and field when she was six years old. Both of Day-Monroe's parents and grandpa did track and field in college. "It's always been a part of our family," Day-Monroe said. By junior high, she began competing in the events she was best at- high jump and middle distance running. Her father coached her all the way through high school.
Sharon also began playing soccer when she was nine. Her older brother and younger sister played soccer as well.
Day-Monroe at the 2012 London Olympics
In high school, Day-Monroe was initially offered a full-ride scholarship for track and field at Cal Poly. Prior to attending Cal Poly, she reached out to the soccer coach to join the soccer team as well. After watching her play soccer, the coach offered her a spot on the team. Her scholarship ended up being split between track and field and soccer.
"I don't know if the opportunity to play college sports would've been there without Title IX. To be able to get my education paid for because of the sports I played was the biggest thing."
Sharon highlights how understanding both of her coaches were for both sports she played. "We all worked as a team to make sure I was getting the best education while playing two sports. I learned a lot about time management."
During her time at Cal Poly, she was selected as the Female Student-Athlete of the Year twice, was named an NCAA All-American a combined seven times in indoor and outdoor competition, won Big West titles in the high jump three times, long jump once, and heptathlon once, and won the 2005 NCAA high jump national championship. She holds Cal Poly records in the high jump and heptathlon.
In women's soccer, Day-Monroe ranks No. 4 all-time in Cal Poly history in career points (27 goals, 14 assists for 68 points), earned first-team All-Big West honors all four years and helped Cal Poly reach two NCAA Tournaments. She was the 2003 Big West Tournament MVP and 2003 Big West Freshman of the Year. Day-Monroe (top row third from left) on the Cal Poly Women's Soccer Team
One of her favorite memories of track and field at Cal Poly was the Big West Championship in 2008 when she jumped the Olympic standard to make the Olympic team. As for soccer, It was winning the Big West Tournament her freshman year.
"I had a great time being an athlete at Cal Poly. I made a lot of lifelong friends. I still keep in touch with them, and our kids are friends now."
Day-Monroe says she appreciated Cal Poly's 'Learn by Doing' motto. "My education at Cal Poly really set me up for my future after sports."
Sharon went one to have a ten-year professional career in track and field, competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the high jump. One of the highlights of her first Olympics was walking in the opening ceremony.
She also competed at the 2012 London Olympics in the heptathlon. She added that she felt more relaxed for her second Olympics as she knew was to expect.
Day-Monroe currently is the winningest multi-event athlete in U.S. history with three outdoor heptathlon titles and four consecutive indoor pentathlon crowns.
In 2015, she was inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame. "I feel so honored to be a part of the Cal Poly Hall of Fame. There are some amazing athletes in it."
As for future athletes, Sharon believes it is important for them to take advantage of the opportunities Title IX provides. She noted that Title IX not only touches on athletics, but education as well.
Sharon lives in San Luis Obispo County with her husband, who is also a Cal Poly alum. She volunteers at Cal Poly through the Athletic Department and the Alumni Association. In her free time, she goes out to sporting events at Cal Poly to support the Mustangs.
"I feel like I'll be connected to Cal Poly forever. I hope my kids consider going to Cal Poly one day."
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