STARKVILLE — Not many eighth-graders have a shot at winning a state title, much less in Class 6A, the state”s highest classification.
But anyone who knows Starkville High School”s Walker Mattox could see her rise to the top of the distance running chain coming from the longest straightaway.
Mattox is coming off first-place finishes in the 3,200 and the 1,600 meters and a third-place finish in the 800 at the regional meet. She hopes to win her first North State titles Saturday at the Class 6A meet at Mississippi State. Starkville High will serve as host for the event.
Ranked fourth in the state and first in Class 6A in the 3,200, Mattox is a favorite to win an overall 6A state title.
“Do I think anybody in the 3,200 is going to compete with her at the state meet? On paper, they shouldn”t,” Starkville High coach Chris Barnett said.
Mattox”s form suggests she could finish the season with the fastest time in the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Mattox set a personal record in the 3,200 with an 11-minute, 57.95-second mark, which is 22 seconds faster than the next closest time by Biloxi”s Shannen Weyer.
“Walker Mattox broke 12, which is a big benchmark for a girl, especially in the eighth grade,” Barnett said. “She is peaking at the right time.”
Mattox”s performance at the region meet also saw her set a personal record of 5:29.46 in the 1,600. Her time is sixth in the state, and third in 6A, one second behind Hancock”s Evie Savage and six seconds behind Madison Central”s Katelyn Walker.
The 800, which Mattox calls her “weaker event,” is where she could pick up additional points at North State and at the State meet.
Mattox ran 2:31.09 for third at regionals, but six runners have higher PRs this season, including teammate Mary Elizabeth Stringer.
What”s it like knowing so many of your team”s points rest on your shoulders?
“I enjoy it, and I take it as an honor that my coaches put me in three events,” Mattox said. “It makes me feel great they trust me.”
Mattox”s biggest hurdle will be the physical demands it takes to handle three events. Throughout the season, she hasn”t been tested in the 3,200 and has barely been threatened by regional competitors in the 1,600.
Barnett said the regional meet gave Mattox her first “true test” when she won the 1,600 by just two-hundreths of a second against Southaven”s Christal Allen.
Having to push herself in the 1,600, where she is a heavy favorite this weekend, and in the 800 could be physically taxing depending on how the events are staggered.
Usually, the longer distance events are earlier in the day.
“I”ve never been a sprinter, but I do believe it”s tougher running multiple distance events,” Mattox said. “It tends to drain your energy, but we get a 30-minute break, I believe, in between events.
“I”m racing myself for sure because I know the competition is getting more fierce,” she said. “I”m trying to stay within my times because I”m at my fastest point right now. In the two-mile, (I aim) stay under a 12, and in the one-mile stay under a 5:30.”
Barnett is confident Mattox won”t be fazed by the size of the next two meets. Despite concerns about Mattox running without top-notch competition in meets, Barnett said he hasn”t had to simulate pressure situations in training.
“It”s really kind of taken care of itself,” Barnett said. “She”s still young and learning, and sometimes when it”s like that you can”t grasp the magnitude. Sometimes she realizes she”s pretty good, but she”s one of those girls who understands that at any point someone can be better. She”s got that motivation to continue to work hard. That mind-set doesn”t always guarantee you victory, but it always gives you a shot.”
With four more seasons as a Lady Yellow Jacket, Mattox”s toughest competition figures to come from her younger sister, Kate, a sixth-grader, who can”t run varsity this season.
Kate”s times are already lower than Walker”s, and she finished the cross country season ranked No. 1 in the 3,000 and 3,200.
“It”s a friendly rivalry, but it”s tough,” Walker said. “It helps because if she weren”t there I wouldn”t push as hard. She”s like my role model. I”m there to try and stick with her because she”s real fast.”
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