Shani Marks is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 athlete who competes in the triple jump

Triple jump

The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...

. Marks finished first at the U.S. Olympic Trials to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics

2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...

.

Marks was a state champion at Apple Valley High School

Apple Valley High School (Minnesota)

Apple Valley High School, commonly referred to as AVHS, is a public four-year high school in Apple Valley, Minnesota. It is a part of Independent School District 196 . It is also affiliated with the Minnesota State High School League...

 and graduated in 1998.

Marks was the USA Indoor Champion in the triple jump in 2005 and 2007 and the USA Outdoor Champion in 2006 and 2007. She finished seventh at the 2006 World Cup

2006 IAAF World Cup

The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece....

, and also competed at the 2007 World Championships

2007 World Championships in Athletics - Women's triple jump

The Women's Triple Jump event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics took place on August 29, 2007 and August 31, 2007 at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan.-Medallists:-Records:-Final:-Group A:-Group B:...

 and the 2008 World Indoor Championships

2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships - Women's Triple Jump

-Medalists:-Qualification:Qualification rule: qualification standard 14.30m or at least best 8 qualified-Final:...

without reaching the final.

Her personal best time is 14.38 metres, achieved at the 2008 Olympic Trials. At the Olympics, she ranked 13th in the qualifying round with a jump of 13.44 m.