By JT Keith

At 7:45 a.m. Thursday, the Artesia student body sat in the bleachers and watched senior Hattie Harrison sign her letter of intent to attend West Texas A&M on a track and field scholarship.

“Hattie has been a true testament to what a student-athlete is here at Artesia,” said Brian Taylor, the school’s athletic director. “I know she is going to go to Canyon (Texas), represent Artesia well, and knock it out of the park just like she has here.”

West Texas A&M was a natural choice for Harrison. Her mom, Robbie Harrison, is a West Texas A&M alum and Hattie’s sister, Elliot Harrison, was on the track team there.

Harrison has been on the Lady Bulldogs varsity track team since eighth grade. She runs the 4×100 and the 300-meter hurdles, and this year she will do the long jump and high jump. Harrison’s most decisive event is the 100-meter hurdles. She has podiumed (finished in the top six at state) every year since eighth grade.

At the state competition in 2024, Harrison broke the Artesia school record by running 15 seconds flat in the 100-meter to finish No.1 in the state.

“I am blessed,” Artesia girls track coach Mandi Lewallen said. “Not only has she shown her skills, but she is a great kid to be around. She’s very coachable, works hard, and is fun to watch, and we will miss her in all aspects of Artesia High School.”

Lewallen, who has been the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach for the last three years after serving as an assistant coach for 11 years, said Harrison’s leadership and teaching skills make her special.

“She is the hardest worker and wants to do her best for herself and the team,” Lewallen said. “She has done well in everything we have asked her to do.”

And there’s still more to do, Hattie said.

“I want to rebreak the 100-meter hurdles record,” she said of goals set for her senior year. “I would love to be a state champ again. I want to

break in the 300-meter hurdles, which is 45 seconds. I want to try and run a 44 if I can and place top three in that.”