STARKVILLE — Starkville High School senior Walker Mattox is trying to keep her emotions in check this week.
After all, Mattox will be competing for a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state championship in two different track and field events.
However, the event carries much more significance since it will be the last time that Mattox competes with sophomore sister Kate Mattox and eighth-grader sister Caroline Mattox.
“I am very sad because this is my last meet in high school,” said Walker Mattox, who has signed to run track at the University of North Alabama. “I know I have a bright future ahead but this has been an emotional week for me, because I know this will be the last meet with my sisters. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to run alongside my little sisters. It is something I will cherish and never take for granted. This has been neat.”
The top four finishers in last week’s North State meet at Madison Central High School qualified for the overall state finals. The state championship is set for Saturday at Pearl High School.
“I am really excited for the state championship meet,” Caroline Mattox said. “We all have been training really hard. God has blessed me with two very talented sisters. They have gone out of their way to push me hard and to make sure I do my very best. It’s going to be strange since this is the last time Walker gets to compete in high school, but we are looking forward to the competition and enjoying the moment.
Kate Mattox and Walker Mattox have qualified in the 1,600 meter run and 3,200 meter run. Kate Mattox won North State in both events with times of 5:17.14 and 11:32.83 respectively. Walker Mattox placed second in the 1,600m with a time of 5:18.21 and third in the 3,200m with a time of 12:00.40. Caroline Mattox will compete in the 800 meter run after she won North State with a time of 2:22.48.
“My older sisters got me interested in track at an early age,” Caroline Mattox said. “They taught me to work hard and to give it all I have every time I compete. They have been real motivational to me. I am glad I had this set-up.”
Kate Mattox has established herself as one of the premier track athletes in the state. This season, she felt like her times have fallen slightly below her normal level of excellence. That is when sisterhood has come in handy.
“The best thing that Walker has done for me is helping me with some of her experiences,” Kate Mattox said. “Some of my times had been really good but I had fallen a little back of where I normally am. Walker had been through the same thing, so helped me with that. She helped me deal with those frustrations and helped me find a way to get better”
Emily Woomer (200m dash and 400m dash), Laura Beth Taylor (800m run), Alexus McKorkle (discus and shot put), Ralesheia Gee (long jump) and Aubreonna Mitchell (long jump) will also be part of the Starkville contingent competing Saturday.
Patton Little will represent the Starkville boys after a first-place North State finish in the 1,600 meter run (4:37.71) and a second-place finish in the 800 meter run (2:00.49).
“We are very excited,” Starkville girls coach Caroline Woomer said. “We are taking shot put and discus to state for the first time. It’s a testament to a lot of hard work. We placed second behind Clinton in both North State and the region meets. This is the largest group I have had competing as a coach. It has been a special year.”
For Walker Mattox, it has been a special career.
“I know my future is going to be exciting with a lot of big meets left,” Walker Mattox said. “Even though that is right around the corner, I have just tried my best to focus in on this season and to enjoy it the most I can.”
Follow Dispatch Sports Writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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