Hurdler Meghan McDermott graduated last year not knowing whether or not she had run her last track meet.
Just before the state championships, a meet where she was highly favored to win, she twisted her ankle. Her event was the girls 100-meter hurdles. Despite the injury, she ran anyway and finished eighth.
“I was in tears,” she said. “I figured track was over for me. I gave up on track. But then after state, a small college called Arizona Christian University in Phoenix called me.”
Arizona Christian gave her a full ride scholarship.
According to Athletic.net, McDermott made it to regionals all four years in the 100-meter hurdles and qualified for state twice.
She also was a jumper and did high, long and the triple jump.
In the long jump she went to regionals three years and in the triple jump all four years.
She made one appearance at state in the triple jump in her sophomore year. In her junior year she went to regionals and state on the 4×100-meter relay team.
She will leave for college on Friday and she will be majoring in biology in hopes of one day becoming a surgical physician’s assistant.
Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com