Story and Photos by Ben Watson
The first-ever Centralia Summer Market was held on Saturday, giving the community a chance to shop and eat in the downtown area. The highlight of this event, however, was the presence of Latavia Maines.
Latavia is a Centralia native, as well as a graduate of Centralia High School, who has done some pretty amazing things. She was a two-time Illinois State champion in shot-put back in high school, and from there, she’s only continued to keep doing great things.
When asked about her experience in the Olympics and her support, Latavia said, “The experience of the Olympic trials was overall a pretty good experience. I feel like I could have done a little better on my own end. For it to be my first time, I feel like I handled my pressure well. I competed very well, I felt good. it was just a blessing to be able to have my mom there, and just to be able to have that experience, in general, is just a blessing. Overall, I can’t complain. There’s definitely more work to be done, but for the first time, I’m more than happy with what I ended with.”
Around noon, Mayor Bryan Kuder issued a proclamation detailing Latavia’s many feats and accomplishments, announcing that July 24th is officially “Latavia Maines Day.” the proclamation, read by Mayor Kuder, is as follows:
“As the mayor of Centralia, I want to make a proclamation for today being ‘Latavia Maines Day.’
Whereas, Latavia Maines was born in the city of Centralia, State of Illinois, on December 5th, 1998, and; Whereas, Latavia showed her athletic skills at an early age while competing for the Centralia High School Orphans. She was a two-time Illinois State champ in the shot-put, and;
Whereas, After graduating from Centralia High School, Latavia attended Barton County Community College in Kansas where she was the 2018 NJCAA outdoor shot-put national runner-up. She also helped Barton College to an indoor national championship in 2019 and was a four-time junior college All-American shot-put thrower, and;
Whereas, Latavia received many honors in the sport program at the University of Tennessee for the shot-put. She was 2018 and 2019 indoor and outdoor USTFCCCA NJCAA All-American, 2020 and 2021 Indoor SEC Champion, 2020 and 2021 Indoor All-SEC First team, 2021 Indoor All-SEC First Team, 2021 Indoor USTFCCCA Second Team all-American, 2021 Outdoor SEC Champion, and 2021 Outdoor All-SEC First team, and;
Whereas, Latavia Maines has accomplished all this while being a great role model for many young adults who aspire to have similar levels of athletic greatness, and;
Whereas, we as residents and officials of the City of Centralia, benefit immensely from Latavia’s dignified and proud representation of the City of Centralia.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that I, Bryan Kuder, Mayor of the City of Centralia, proclaim July 24th, 2021 as “Latavia Maines Day” in Centralia and call its significance to the citizens of the City of Centralia and the surrounding communities. I would call all citizens to celebrate Latavia Maines’ tremendous athletic accomplishments and join me in proudly honoring Latavia for her profound accomplishments and inspiring example of commitment to excellence.
In witness whereas, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Centralia to be affixed.”
With all of those astounding feats listed, it’s no wonder that Latavia Maines is getting her own day. Her accomplishments are ushering in a new era of inspiration for the youth and a greater sense of community in the City of Centralia. It is these outgoing outliers like Latavia that continue to make Centralia and its people proud.
Centralia is incredibly proud of this young woman. She’s shot for the stars and she’s made. We wish her the best of luck as she shoots past the stars and for the moon. May she stay strong and vigilant, and continue to make Centralia proud.
