NATCHITOCHES—Senior Day is always a special time for the group of athletes being honored.

It is even more special for senior sprinter Lynell Washington.

Whenever Washington readies to race, she doesn't lack for motivation.

But that motivation has shifted the past few years.

Throughout her life, Washington had a strong bond with her father, Lionel Washington.

"It was like we were twins," Lynell said. "He had attitude. I had an attitude. My mom had to deal with us fussing, whether that be about food or something because we always like to eat. We had a great relationship."

The elder Washington always made sure his daughter was on the right path.

"My dad used to come out to the track with my mom and make sure that I was always on my game and I wasn't doing the wrong things," Lynell said. "He just made sure I was always on the right track."

However, a year ago, Lynell was dealt a blow.

On Feb. 20, 2023, Washington was preparing for the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, aiming to capture her third consecutive indoor gold medal in the 60-meter dash.

That day, Lionel, passed away from cancer at the age of 59.

It was a tough day for Lynell, who had a tough decision to make.

The grief-stricken Lynell responded in a way only she could.

At the SLC Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, Lynell not only ran, but she captured a pair of gold medals, one each in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash.

Her time of 7.32 in the prelims in the 60 tied a personal best and advanced her to the finals, where she dominated the field to win the gold with a time of 7.39.

The younger Washington knew she was not alone when she was running at that meet, or any one after.

"His loss has shaped me because I knew I had to keep going because my dad is over watching me," Lynell said. "I know sometimes it will be tough and I want to quit, but I know I have people looking up to me, like my community back home. I always keep motivated, even when I feel down. Just coming out and practicing helps clear my mind from thinking about my pops."

In the indoor season, Lynell has dominated the 60, as she occupies the top 10 times in the event in program history.

She also rolled to the 2023 200-meter title, clocking a 23.90.

This February, she won her fourth consecutive gold medal in the 60 in the indoor, just days following the one-year anniversary of her father's death.

No matter how she does, she knows who she does it for.

"Every day my dad is on my mind," Lynell said. "There is not a day that goes by that my dad isn't on my mind. I just have a way of hiding it by doing track. Track keeps me going with workouts and everything, but every day I step out on the track, I make sure I do it for my pops."

When looking for inspiration, she does not need to look far to remember him.

"I wear a chain with his ashes in it that I always wear around my neck," Lynell said. "I always wear it to make sure he is always here with me, watching over me, guiding me through the race, so when the race gets tough, I know my dad is around my neck to tell me to keep going and keep pushing."

As she prepares for her final meet in front of the home crowd, she does so with a heavy heart and her father on her mind.

During the Leon Johnson Invitational, which begins Friday, she will hear her name called, along with eight other seniors as part of a storied senior class that has broken numerous conference and school records, in addition to countless gold medals won at the conference championships.

"It will be a very emotional moment for me," Washington said. "But it is going to be a proud moment as well, knowing that I am finishing my last year on a high note and I just want to do things that have never been done here before."

Following the meet, she has one more outdoor conference championship meet, as she aims to build upon a legendary career at NSU.

Overall, Lynell has collected a whopping 10 gold medals, either individually or as a member of a relay team, and 12 overall medals.

When the lights are on, she shines the brightest.

Associate head coach Adam Pennington has seen a difference in Lynell after her father's death. He knows when there is a championship to win, he knows who Lynell is running in memory of.

"When she lost her father, I think she was more aware of why she was competing in these meets," Pennington said. "It was more for her father than herself, whereas in the previous years it was for her.

"That is the one thing I have seen with her father. She has always been a competitor at a high level. She is one of those people who no matter how the season is going, when you get into a competition, especially a championship, she turns it to another gear."

As she embarks on her final months in Natchitoches, she knows her father is looking down on her and smiling, helping Lynell every step of the way in her journey through life. She always feels like she has him watching from up above, guiding her as she finishes her career in both track and college.

"If he were still here, he'd tell me, 'Keep going, baby girl, I am proud of you,'" Lynell said. "I know he'd be pretty happy with this moment here for being able to finish college for being the first graduate out of both his and my mom's side.

"I still have old voice messages from him saying 'I love you, baby girl' and things like that and I use that as my motivation."