Wilamena had a fantastic throwing career at Buchholz High School, graduating in 2009. She closed her high school career with PRs of 142-9 and 46-9 in the disc and shot, respectively. After having to deal with fellow All-Decade Team member Zakeya Stinson at state for thee years, her senior year it was all Wilamena. She went home with two golds in the throws. Hopkins stands as one of the greatest shot putters in Florida history, throwing over 45 feet in her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.
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- Jason Byrne (flrunners.com) Congrats on making the All-Decade Team!
- Wilamena Hopkins Thank you so much. I am honored.
- JB How did you first get involved in the sport?
- WH I started playing Basketball when I was 5 years old, so I was involved at a very young age. I started track when I was 7 years old, which is still young.
- JB Looking back at your high school career, what are you most proud?
- WH I am most proud of when I was a freshmen I placed very well at State, I had made my mark and it was only up from there.
- JB What are your fondest memories?
- WH They are when I would always hear my name over the intercom saying first place and it really did not phase me that I had gotten first. People would be saying oh congrats and I would just, say "Thanks."
- JB Who or what were your biggest influences or factors in your success?
- WH My mom (Sylvia L. Hunt) who has been by my side since I was 7 years old throwing; even though my mom didn't know anything about throwing she would help me and now 12 years later, she is pretty educated on it. And all of the people who helped me throughout my throwing years: Coach Roney Jones, Coach Hosley, Coach Norris, and last but not least God.
- JB Who were some of your favorite athletes (or biggest rivals) to compete against?
- WH I compete against myself and I try to PR all the time. Competition is something that I really didn't have, but when it came to state my freshmen, sophmore, and junior year.
- JB What are you doing now competitively and just in general?
- WH I am on the track team at the University of Alabama...Roll-Tide...and I am a nurse major.
- JB What piece of advice would you offer today's high school athletes? Or what do you realize now that you wish you knew then?
- WH I would tell them to work hard not only in their athletics but in their school work. Education is really inportant and should be your firt priority. Me growing up as an athlete and an accomplished athlete, I would not change any knowledge. What I know now I've been knowing my whole life, if you love something work hard, education comes first, and always give God the praise.