Last weekend, Shaniyah Walker won two gold medals at the MHSAA Class 6A state track and field meet. A few days later, she hauled in another prize.

The Vicksburg High senior sprinter has signed with Hinds Community College, and celebrated the achievement with a ceremony Tuesday.

“I’m very happy and very grateful for the opportunity,” Walker said. “It feels good. It lets me know that I’m getting somewhere. I’m getting closer to achieving my dream because I want to make a name for myself in track.”

Walker has already made quite a name for herself. She competed in four events at the state meet and won two — the 400 meters and 4×200 meter relay. She clocked a personal-best time of 57.41 seconds in the 400, and in the 4×200 took her team from fourth place to first while running the anchor leg.

“I was in the minutes for so long and I’m now running a 57 and going to be improving even more. And winning state, too? That felt really good,” Walker said.

Walker also competed in the 4×400 meter relay and the 200 meters. She finished sixth in the 200, although only .40 seconds separated first through sixth place in that race.

Walker won the 400 meters in six out of seven meets this season. She said the idea of earning a scholarship and not paying for college was a big motivational tool.

“This is probably my best year. The offers, for one. It’s my senior year and I didn’t expect on paying for college. I kind of had to step it up a little bit,” she said. “Not even for the offers, but for myself. How could I get better if I wasn’t pushing myself.”

Walker’s success led to offers from Hinds, Meridian Community College and one four-year school, West Alabama. She said she picked Hinds to stay closer to home and because it had a good program for her intended major of physical therapy.

“I think that was the first college that was interested in me. I was going to go, but I wanted to see more opportunities. But I planned on going to Hinds, to start off there and work my way up to a university,” she said. “I was debating between UWA and Hinds in Raymond because they both gave full rides. But I went with Hinds in Raymond just to stay closer to home.”