Friendly Mayfield zoning in on state meet

By JEFF CASPERSEN/Leader Sports Editor

While her competitors zone in and ignore their surroundings in preparation for a big event, Sonetria Mayfield is more inclined to mingle and wish everyone good luck.

That's just her nature, and it's in no way hindering the Round Rock track star's penchant for winning. Mayfield's presence at this weekend's state track meet proves that.

The Region II champion long jumper holds the second seed among state qualifiers, having recorded a leap of 19 feet and 1/2 inch. Mayfield's best jump this year measured 19-2 1/2 and garnered her the District 15-5A title.

She hopes for a similar result on Saturday.

"I want to win state. That's my No. 1 goal," said Mayfield, who recently made a verbal commitment to compete in track at Texas State. "I want to set a personal record and break the school record. Preferably, I'd like to jump 19-5."

Mayfield received interest from a number of college programs, including Iowa State and Villanova. She chose Texas State primarily because of proximity.

"I'm a daddy's girl," Mayfield said with a laugh. "I want to stay in Texas."

At Texas State, she will compete in the long jump, as well run the 100-meter dash and sprint relays.

The future Bobcat's path to the nearly full-ride scholarship and the state meet wasn't easy. Mayfield had to fight her way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament she suffered while playing basketball during his sophomore year. She never found top form her junior year, but is obviously back on her game as a senior.

While other sports drew Mayfield earlier in life, track now takes center stage.

 "I love sports," she said. "I played everything - volleyball, softball, basketball, track. Once I was getting into high school, people kept telling me to pick one sport and stick with it."

Track was a natural fit for Mayfield, who has been winning ever since she set foot on a team.

"In seventh grade, people told me to try out for track. I played softball and ran around the bases so fast, all my teammates said I'd be good at it. My first time out, I broke a school record at C.D. (Fulkes Middle School)."

Mayfield has yet to stop winning. She finished first at all but one event in 2006

Faith is a major player in Mayfield's life. She feels she will need to strengthen it to post first-place finishes in the future.

"My faith in God needs to be stronger," Mayfield declared. "A lot of times I say I can't do this or can't do that, but I know God gave me the strength to do anything. I need to put my faith in his hands. Basically, I need to get stronger."

That's not all Mayfield will need. She's developed a meet-day superstition she'll need to sustain. That would be a trip to 7-11 to pick up a banana and water.

"One day my dad and I were out and I told him we needed some fruits for in the morning. He said, 'It's ok, we'll go to 7-11.'"

She picked up some bananas, won at the track meet later that day, and hasn't deviated from the routine since.

Mayfield looks to continue her favorite routine of all - winning - on Saturday.