At first glance, Shady Spring track and field standout Gracie McCallister has the appearance of a sprinter or distance runner.
That is not the case.
Instead, McCallister makes herself known in the field events. Namely in the discus throw and shot put for the Tigers
Her efficiency in those events has now afforded her an opportunity to compete at the next level.
Two weeks back, with family, friends, coaches and teammates in attendance, McCallister signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field at Concord University.
“This is crazy and so exciting. It is really the biggest step I have ever taken and the biggest accomplishment I have ever had. I am kind of on a high right now,” McCallister said. “Some of my buddies go there and I really like the school. I took a tour and set a goal for myself to be good enough to make it into college. I have put in the work every day just to get myself there.”
McCallister’s track career did not start in the field events, but after the change, she knew she had found herself a home.
“I have done track for six years, ever since I was in middle school. I started throwing my sophomore year,” McCallister said. “I fell in love with it pretty quickly. My first year, I placed seventh at our home meet and that is really when I started to believe I could be successful.”
Naturally, the success for the Shady Spring senior can be tied to hard work and the desire to get better.
“Gracie has been with me now for three years and she really works hard,” Shady Spring girls assistant and throws coach, Mike Evans said. “She went down and worked with a throws coach in the (Kanawha) Valley and surprised us when she came back. I have told her to just work to get better every throw. She has done that ever since we started working with her. It been a pleasure to coach her and she has been a treat to work with. She definitely keeps thing loose.”
Competing in golf, basketball and swimming, as well as track, the senior track campaign for McCallister started a little slow.
“I didn’t start the season well. I was coming off of an injury in swimming and I was a little weak,” McCallister said. “I have been getting better and progressing. That is what it is about.”
After starting the season on March 22 with a shot put toss of 26-feet, 2.5-inches, McCallister had an effort of 31-feet, 3-inches Thursday at the AA Coalfield Conference meet.
Her improvement in the discus throw is even more impressive.
In the meet on March 22, she heaved the disc 73-feet, 6-inches. At the Coalfield meet, the disc flew 104-feet, 11-inches.
“I think it is just due to my hard work and practicing everyday,” McCallister said. “Going home, practicing at night time and getting in my lifts. Just dedicating my time to it.”
While McCallister wants to continue her two high school events, she is also interested in some new ones in college.
“I have been working with (Shady Spring boys head track coach) Erica Hegele to throw the javelin a little bit,” McCallister said. “I have never thrown them, but I really want to try hammer throw and weight throw also. Javelin is hard and really technical. It’s different and not what I am used, so it’s a challenge.”
Hegele threw the javelin at West Virginia University when she competed in the heptathlon.
Evans knew Concord University assistant track coach Andrew Barbera from teaching him in high school. Barbera mentioned the javelin and McCallister was interested and wanted to try it.
“I think she will make a good javelin thrower. She has the agility,” Evans said. “Erica has been showing her a few things about throwing the javelin and she is really enjoying it.”
After finishing top-10 in the shot put at the state meet last year, McCallister currently has hers eyes set on a return trip to Charleston.
Currently she is top-13 in the state in the shot put and top-8 in the discus throw.
“I am really excited. I have put in the work and I think I am going to do good this year, McCallister said.
The class AA regional meet for Shady Spring will be contested Thursday, May 9 at Woodrow Wilson High School.
