Central track coach Charles Taylor learned about Alexis Bates when she was in the fourth grade.

Boys coach Chris Chamberlain noticed Bates’ talent in the long-jump pit at an elementary school track meet. Bates doesn’t remember the meeting, but her talent has shined enough in high school to earn a Division I scholarship.

Bates signed a national letter of intent to run track for the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Monday afternoon at Central High School. She plans to run the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and possibly the 400-meter relay once she joins the Blazers this fall.

“They expect me to jump in and do what I do,” Bates said. “I plan on going in and getting it done.”

Coming into high school, Bates wasn’t so confident about her ability to compete with the big girls. She soon found out she could after winning a state championship in the 100-meter dash in Missouri’s biggest class as a freshman and finishing second in the 200-meter dash that same day.

“She’s the best true sprinter we’ve ever had,” Taylor said.

UAB’s coaches have told Bates they have no plans for her to redshirt a season to work on things and improve her ability to compete in Conference USA.

“She’ll be able to contribute immediately,” UAB coach Kurt Thomas said. “She has so much potential. She’s one of the most talented people in the entire recruiting class.

“It always helps to sign someone with so much talent right off the bat.”

During her visit to UAB, she said the thing that stood out the most was how supportive the team was of each other and how practice wasn’t competitive all the time. On the visit, she met with several members of the team and felt like it was a track family at UAB and she’d fit in well to become one of the little sisters. The Blazers don’t field a men’s track team.

“It helps us focus a lot more because we don’t have to deal with double the number of athletes,” Thomas said. “There isn’t the distraction of having a men’s team. The girls can focus on each other getting better.”

Before last season, the Blazers finished in the top four at both the Conference USA indoor and outdoor conference meets the last four seasons.

Bates also liked the city of Birmingham and can see herself living there after she finishes school at UAB. She plans on majoring in criminal justice with a minor in forensic psychology.

“Nothing against St. Joseph, but I wanted to get away and learn on my own,” Bates said. “It’s not too far away, but it’s not too close.”

Taylor guided Bates in her decision, helping her make sure she would fit in at the school she chose.

“Ultimately, it was a decision between her and her parents where she wanted to go to school,” Taylor said. “I think it’s going to be a great fit.”

Sprinting has come naturally for Bates, who’s mother, Lisa, also ran for coach Taylor at Central. It came so natural that some people questioned why Bates decided to leave the Midwest and the opportunities to run for Big 12 schools such as Iowa State, Kansas or Missouri.

“School is school,” Bates said. “I just have to show them what I can do.”