Shelby Lile is a four–year member of the Bradley Cross country and Track and Field teams.
Although Lile is a long distance runner, she's had to clear many hurdles to get to where she is today.

During her freshman year of high school Shelby Lile knew something wasn't right.

Bradley Senior Shelby Lile said, "I began getting these strange Deja–vu feelings and they just kept getting stronger and soon I was blacking out when I got them. After one of those feelings I would completely forget what to do. If I was playing a game I wouldn't remember how to play it anymore."

Shelby was diagnosed with Epilepsy and while being treated for it doctors found a tumor in her brain.

Lile said, "When I was told I had I had a brain tumor it was more shock than anything else. I had so many questions like was it cancer?"

The tumor turned out not to be cancerous and after having it removed and despite still suffering from seizures Shelby continued running.

Lile said, "Running was an escape in a way. It provided a sense of normalcy for me. My teammates were always there to support me. It helped me feel like I was a normal teenager."

Shelby had 2 more surgeries her senior year of high school and she's been seizure free since coming to Bradley in 2004 This year the Missouri Valley conference recognized her with the league's Most Courageous Award.

Lile said, "All the problems I had were thrust on me and I had no choice but to deal with them. I was forced to make the best of the situation. Everybody knew that I had epilepsy I had seizures sometimes in races or classes so there was no way to hide it so I was forced to make the best of it."

Bradley coach David Beauchem said, "Courage and achievement both. It's more than just coming in and graduating. It's coming in and now reaching a level where Shelby's competitive in the conference."