During a vast majority of the meets they compete in, the West Central Valley girls track team has one athlete who competes against herself.Sophomore Suzanne Shoemaker is one of only a handful of wheelchair athletes who participate in Iowa high school track and field. Shoemaker is in her second season with the Wildcat girls track team, competing for West Central Valley in the wheelchair 100, 200, and 400-meter dash and the shot put competition. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network spoke with West Central Valley head girls track coach Dave Hammond on last night’s Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Guthrie County PM Sports Page about Shoemaker’s involvement with the Wildcat girls track team. Hammond describes Shoemaker as a very important and fun part of the team. “She continually comments on how this year is more fun than the last, ” Hammond said, “I think the girls didn’t know how to treat her last year and this year everybody’s gathering around and helping her out, cheering her on, and she always has a positive attitude.”

Hammond adds the team does have additional equipment they bring for Shoemaker to compete including a special wheelchair for throwing shot put and a separate one for racing. Shoemaker and the West Central Valley girls track team will next compete Thursday in the annual Wildcat Invite in Stuart.