TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Jhordyn Stallworth had big goals for her final track season, planning to defend the gold in shotput and turn silver into gold in the discus.
It wasn't meant to be, but now she has plenty of motivation as she heads to college.
Everyone has a last meet. For Florida High's Stallworth, it wasn't memorable in the way she'd prefer.
"I went and threw, and I slipped and fell in the ring," said Stallworth. "I still managed to make a mark and win, but that wasn't the best memory."
Because of coronavirus pandemic, Stallworth didn't get a chance to redeem herself when the rest of her high school season was canceled.
"I kind of accepted it before it happened, but when it happened, it was kind of a harsh awakening, I guess," Stallworth said. "Wow, that's really it."
A gold and a silver medal left on the table to be defended and improved upon.
"That was the toughest part," said Stallworth.
Stallworth's athletic career isn't over. She'll continue throwing for Mississippi State and she has plenty of motivation.
"This is how you ended things, so I want to pick up right where I left off and hit the ground running and be able to just make a really good freshman season," Stallworth said. "I'll just take that with me, be like,'You can do it here since you didn't get to do it there.'"
It's a bittersweet ending to a stellar career as a Seminole.
"I've been throwing with Florida High since sixth grade, and even though the career didn't really end how I wanted it to I still have two records on the record board, I still have a great coach, I still have great teammates," said Stallworth. "I feel like I will leave a good legacy here."
A good legacy she plans to turn into something more.
"I was in the car the other day, and I was just thinking, it hit me, like, 'you're going to be in the NCAA's and you're going to be in the SEC and it's not just high school anymore,'" Stallworth said. "It's not district, regionals, and state; this is the big time. I'm just really excited to get there and be able to compete."
Stallworth said the plan is to report to Mississippi State next month. Until then, she's lifting, conditioning, and throwing to get ready for the season.
