Ft. Bend Marshall senior William Mitchell is the new UIL 5A State track meet champion in the 100-meter dash. Mitchell was elated after running 10.43 at the state track meet.
“It feels amazing; like a dream come true. Everyone who says they’re fast wants to win state in the 100-meter dash and I’m the guy that won it. This accomplishment has my confidence all the way into space right now,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell began running track in the third grade for Dave Bethany Elite. He did the running events, but he was never the star of the show. He was better at the field events. However, after one season he and his family decided to stop running and explore other activities.
“At that time I was also playing football, but I was on the verge of quitting because I had a bad little league experience,” said Mitchell. “I was smaller than everyone else and didn’t have much confidence. I was continuously overlooked because I didn’t meet the eye test so, I began to believe that maybe football wasn’t really for me anymore.”
After switching football teams, Mitchell found himself on the Southwest Jr. Marlins where he met Coach D, who along with his father, helped to rebuild his confidence.
“I regained my confidence. It was just me, the ball and the guy in front of me who was going to have to prove to me that he was better than me in every category,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell stayed with the Southwest Jr. Marlins until he entered high school. While making a name for himself, Mitchell realized that running track could help better him as an athlete and improve his recruiting.
“I felt that I could use track to help me run more efficiently. Then I’d be able to use my weight room strength while running,” said Mitchell. “Eventually, I fell in love with it again and it became another escape from life similar to how football made me feel.”
William Mitchell
IG: @Willthematrix
Twitter: @Willthematrixx
Races: 100-meter, 4×100-meter relay, 4×200-meter relay
Height & weight: 5-feet-10, 178 pounds
Runners he studies: Christian Coleman (Pro), Kalen Walker (University of Iowa)
Status: Committed to Texas State
Favorite artists: Baby Kia
Favorite subject: Science / Human anatomy
Shout-outs: God, Family, Danny McCray and the athletic program at Marshall High School.
Mitchell’s freshman year showed that he had the talent, but lacked the experience needed to perform at a high level.
“Coach Banks told me I had no form; I just wanted to outwork everybody. So, that year I ran on the junior varsity team,” said Mitchell.
Sophomore year, Mitchell began to show progress. As an alternate in the 4×200-meter relay, Mitchell ran the first leg at the area meet while Michael Patterson was injured. By the end of the season, he ran 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash but was unable to make it out of district.
Junior year, Mitchell was no longer an alternate but had earned his spot on the 4×100-meter relay team.
“That’s when people began to notice. We ran 39.8 on the 4×100-meter relay. I was magic on that curve as the third leg,” said Mitchell. “Going from being the smallest guy on the little league football team to the biggest guy on my track relay team, people didn’t expect me to do much. But I performed. I ran 10.7 in the 100-meter dash that year.”
This year marked Mitchell’s third trip to the UIL 5A state meet. However, it was his first time competing in a single event. Mitchell qualified for the 100-meter dash after running 10.42 in the district meet and came in with the fastest time in the state for 5A.
Next season Mitchell will be attending Texas State University on a football scholarship with hopes of walking onto the track program, as well while studying kinesiology.
“The way Coach GJ Kienne turned the program around and the way they genuinely recruited me made me feel this school was the best fit for me,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell recalls the encouragement given to him by his community of care that kept him going when he didn’t feel he was worthy of the opportunities being presented.
“My support system was different. It really does take a village and all the small things helped, from just saying you’re enough to the pep talks about keeping your head down and working, focusing on proving yourself right instead of proving others wrong.”
Not only did Mitchell take home the gold his senior season, but he was also crowned athlete of the meet as he tallied 20 individual points.
“I didn’t even know that was something to win, I just focused on serving my purpose for the team on getting points on the board,” said Mitchell. “For the next upcoming athletes, keep your head down and stay on your path. Your time is coming; stay true to yourself.”
