Poplar Bluff's Dodd and Wilkerson sign with Missouri Baptist track & field team

A pair of Poplar Bluff track and field athletes get the opportunity of a lifetime to compete at the college level.

Both Brandin Dodd and Matthew Wilkerson signed their national letters of intent Tuesday to join the track and field team at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.

“I feel great,” Wilkerson said about signing to continue his career in the pole vault. “I feel like it’s going to be a great place for me where I can learn a lot from the coaches and be a great teammate that’s willing to learn from the team.”

For their final season with the Mules, Wilkerson had six top-five finishes in the pole vault with a personal best of 3.53 meters, while Dodd was a 2023 state qualifier in the 300-meter hurdles and 4x200-meter relay, a sectional qualifier in the long jump and had eight top-five finishes in the 300-meter hurdles and seven top-five finishes in the long jump.

Dodd said he was pleased to have his family in attendance while signing and is ready to start his next journey at the next level. He was sold on Missouri Baptist after a campus visit, and being close to his dad was a plus.

Wilkerson was also sold on Missouri Baptist once he stepped on campus. He quickly realized that no other school gave him that welcoming feeling he was searching for.

“I just felt like I was at home during my visit,” Wilkerson said. “I went to other places, and I didn’t really feel at home, but Missouri Baptist did. It just felt better. The coaches and people I met were cool, so I just felt like it was a great place to pick.”

Meeting the teachers and coaches is what Wilkerson is looking forward to with starting his college career. He hopes that he can continue improving his skills and increase his jumping when the season starts.

Head boys track and field coach Jeff Mannon couldn’t be more excited to see two of his own move on to bigger and better things.

Senior Matt Wilkerson charges ahead in the pole vault during the Poplar Bluff Track & Field Invitational in April. For his final season, Wilkerson had six top-five finishes in the pole vault with a personal best of 3.53 meters.DAR/D�Courtland Christian

“Both of these guys have really put in a lot of hard work, so it’s fulfilling to see them compete on this level,” Mannon said. “Matt’s a great kid. He’s one of those kids that will run through a wall for you. I’ve coached him in football as well, and it’s been great to watch him come out of his shell with the pole vault.

I had the pleasure of coaching Brandon for the last three years. He’s a distance kid, but we transitioned him into the sprints and jumps this year, and he exceeded all expectations by qualifying for state. Overall, I’m so excited to see what they get in the future.”

Mannon encourages them both to keep grinding. Getting to the college level is tough because it’s more of a job compared to high school. He believes they can flourish if they stay focused and never stop grinding.

Racing alongside his teammates at Poplar Bluff is what Dodd will miss the most. Wilkerson said he will also miss his teammates and the coaches who helped him make it to this point in his track and field career.

“I have some great memories on that track that I will always cherish,” Wilkerson said. “As I move on to Missouri Baptist, I want to keep improving and progress throughout my track season.”