The ACGC track and field teams are quickly putting together a balanced team as they head into the gauntlet of regular season meets this month. While long distance running is clearly a strong area for the Chargers, field athletes are also starting to find their rhythm. Caden Wardyn and Sara Schmeling were both top-two finishers in the long jump at Earlham Tuesday night. However, junior Mady McDermott might be off to the best start for those in the black and gold.

The current Charger record holder in the shot put, McDermott is best in the West Central Activities Conference in the event with a throw of 37 feet. Since collecting the top mark at the Buena Vista Indoor last month, she has won three additional meets (Greene County, Perry, Earlham). She currently sits less than half a foot out of the top 24 in the state, which would qualify her for the Drake Relays.

McDermott talks about her mentality during her throws. “You just got to stay focused. You know all of that hard work is going to pay off for you in the end and you got to get your mind set and be ready to go out there and show them what you got.”

She credits West Central Valley’s Grace Dupuy as a fellow athlete who helps push her to reach higher marks. Both will be at the Charger Girls Invitational tonight. Athletes from several schools will join the host Chargers, including: Audubon, CAM, Corning, Earlham, Exira-EHK, Glidden-Ralston, Iowa Christian Academy, Lenox, Nodaway Valley, Panorama, and West Central Valley. First events begin from Gonzales-Parrish track at 5pm.