At age 57, Mercer University School of Law alumna Sonja B. Profit isn’t slowing down — in court or on the track. A federal prosecutor and lifelong athlete, Profit recently returned to competitive hurdling after a 33-year hiatus. This summer, she competed in the USA Track and Field Masters Outdoor National Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, where she won the 80-meter hurdles and placed second in the 100-meter dash in the 55–59 age division.
Earlier in the year, Profit, who graduated from law school in 1998, made her world championship debut at the USATF World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Florida. There, she clinched first place in the 60-meter hurdles and earned the title of world’s top-ranked athlete in her age group and event, competing against runners from more than 90 countries.
“Winning the race was surreal! I have no comparison,” Profit said. “The moment was incredibly special because both my sons and daughters-in-law were there to cheer me on.”
Profit’s journey in athletics began as a high school hurdler in Sicklerville, New Jersey, and continued at Michigan State University. During her 40s, she trained in CrossFit with her sons, Joshua and Jacob — both collegiate baseball athletes — but didn’t return to serious competition until after they left for college. That’s when she discovered the Masters division of USATF, a competitive series for athletes aged 25 and older. She dove back in with characteristic intensity.
Profit brings that same drive to her legal career. After graduating from Mercer Law, she spent 13 years as staff counsel at Allstate Insurance, handling bodily injury and property damage claims. In 2012, she joined the U.S. Department of Justice as an assistant U.S. attorney, prosecuting federal criminal cases and litigating civil matters involving the federal government.
“The hardest part of being a federal prosecutor is realizing the emotional toll it takes on the families involved,” she said. “It can also be heartbreaking when you see families torn apart by crime.”
Still, she finds purpose in the pursuit of justice and accountability.
“It’s very rewarding to help keep society safe,” she said.
Naturally competitive — especially in the courtroom — Profit juggles the demands of her high-pressure profession with world-class training.
“True athletes consistently train and learn to perform under pressure. The legal profession requires the same,” she said.
Her athletic discipline fuels her legal performance and vice versa.
Outside of work and competition, Profit gives back by coaching high school hurdlers. The youth and energy of her training group, she says, keeps her sharp. But her greatest inspiration comes from her sons. Josh, a marketing and media specialist, owns WarTown Creative and is producing a video series documenting her journey titled Fast at 50. Jacob is training to become a commercial pilot like his father. Whenever possible, the family travels together to Profit’s races.
“You’re never too old,” she said. “Whatever it is, keep moving. Stay healthy. It’s as simple as taking that first walk around the block. You just have to keep moving in order to live a healthy life.”
