PARKWAY'S MIKAYLAH WILLIAMS THROWS THE DISCUS AT THE 2022 DISTRICT 1-5A MEET
The great ones are just built different. Parkway's Mikaylah Williams, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year award winner, is one of--if not the--greatest basketball player to ever come out of Northwest Louisiana, is a prime example.
Parkway head track coach Kent Falting would have understood if Williams, who signed earlier this year to continue her basketball career at LSU, decided to focus on her primary sport and not throw the discus for the Lady Panthers in the last few weeks of her incredible high school career.
Williams, who finished third at the LHSAA Class 5A Meet last year, didn't do that. Instead, she went out Tuesday and won her third consecutive District 1-5A title with a personal record of 132-1.5.
"It's a second love," Williams said. "Just something to get my mind off basketball for a minute and have fun and still enjoy my high school career."
While she has won district titles before, she has never thrown the discus over 130' in a meet, but she did it Tuesday--twice.
"I think it was just my spin, and getting my feet down and being able to execute on the throw," Williams said of her breakthrough performance.
Williams' throw was one of three school records on the day for Parkway throws coach Dillon Jackson. The other Panthers who had were junior Chloe Larry in the javelin (130-7) and sophomore Devon Oliver in the boys' discus (161-1).
Williams is looking forward to making a return trip to Bernie Moore Stadium in two weeks where she will compete just a couple of discus throws from her home away from home for the next four years-- the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
"It's a lot like competing for a basketball state championship," Williams said of competing at the LHSAA State Outdoor Meet. "There is a lot on the line. You want to win. You go there to compete and have fun."
First, she will have to punch her ticket at the Region I-5A Meet in Natchitoches next Wednesday. Last year, Williams was the runner-up at regionals with a throw of 120-5.5.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey doesn't have to lose any sleep over losing her star recruit to track and field.
"I'm sure she'd let me (throw in college) if I wanted," Williams said when asked about throwing the discus in college. "But I think I'm going to stick to hoops."
A little over two weeks ago, Williams was in Dallas' American Airlines Center and watched her soon-to-be teammates win the university's first-ever national title, 102-85, over Iowa.
"Man, it was crazy!," Williams said of the experience. "I was there. I had chills running down my body and everything. I'm just ready for that to be me."
While she is excited about the next chapter, South Bossier and Parkway High School will be missed by Williams.
"I'm going to miss my family around me, my friends and coaching staff," Williams said. "I'm going to miss them a lot, but other than that I'm ready for the next step in my life."