By: Matthew Florjancic, Correspondent

BEREA, OHIO—Berea native and Berea High School graduate Megan McDannel loves to succeed in front of the hometown fans at The George Finnie Stadium. It is something that McDannel has enjoyed during her four-year career as a Yellow Jacket women’s track and field competitor at Baldwin-Wallace College.

As her collegiate career winds down and McDannel prepares for her final Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Meet this Saturday at Marietta College, she has a BIG goal.

"I would like to finish strong at the OAC Championship Meet," said McDannel. The first priority is to help lead my team to the OAC title. Individually, I want to win all three events that I will compete: the shot put, discus and hammer.

"I am very confident in our team and I am also very superstitious, so I don’t want to jinx us," said McDannel, who has posted 2006 outdoor personal bests in the shot put (37’3.25"), discus (133’0") and hammer throw (137’01"). "We are the defending OAC champions both indoors and outdoors and we have the talent and ability to win again. We are looking forward to the competition."

Earlier this spring, McDannel and the Yellow Jacket women faced a similar challenge when B-W won its second straight All-Ohio Division III Championship Meet, and she individually won both the hammer and discus. That performance led to McDannel being named as the OAC Women’s Track Field Event Athlete of the Week.

"Winning the All-Ohio title for the second straight year was a great accomplishment but that was three weeks ago and this is now," said McDannel, who carries an English major and minors in political science and international studies. "Now our focus is on winning the OAC title and hopefully qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Meet."

Winning events and titles, and even setting records, is nothing new for McDannel.

During the 2006 indoor season, the B-W women won a second straight OAC title and its 17th in the past 19 years. Outdoors, B-W and McDannel won last year’s crown after a two-year absence and overall has won 16 of the last 19. During her four-year career at B-W, McDannel and the Yellow Jacket women’s team has won 13 indoor and nine outdoor meet crowns.

Individually, McDannel earned All-OAC honors this winter by winning the weight throw with a toss of 45’1.75". She returns this spring as the defending OAC champ in the discus with a throw of 133’6".

In terms of records, McDannel holds B-W school marks in the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw.

"Competing well is enough in its own right, but such recognition [individual records] is an honor," said McDannel, who also will compete in two weeks at the Annual B-W Twilight Meet at The Finnie Stadium on May 19. "Being the record-holder in the weight and hammer throws is a good way to culminate my career.

"I hope both records do not last long," continued McDannel. "We have some really talented throwers moving up the ranks. The success of the new throwers will have a direct affect on the success of the women’s track program. I want B-W to keep winning All-Ohio and OAC titles for many years to come."

McDannel believes in her teammates. She knows that chemistry is one of the reasons why B-W has been so successful in the last four years. She is also aware that at the OAC Meet, as in most track meets, anyone can win the field events.

"The thing with throwing is that you never know who your competition is until after you’re done," said McDannel. "Someone else could have a really great day and you could have a horrible day.

"Surprise competitors pop up all the time," she adds with both a smile and laugh. "Most of the time in the throwing events, it is literally and figuratively a toss up."

Obstacles come in all forms for student-athletes. For McDannel, the obstacles she faces come from within.

"I think in this sport, all you face all kinds of obstacles, but the biggest obstacle that I have faced has been myself," said McDannel. "This sport is all about being better than you were before. You are constantly trying to better yourself.

"So many factors go into competing well and it is so hard to get everything to work right," continued McDannel. "When your head knows what you need to do, your body is still trying to get it together. You have to be able to work through that frustration. And, when you get both your head and body on the same page, it can be a very gratifying experience. That it what I hope to do in all three events at the OAC Meet."

Even with all of her success on the track team, McDannel has found a good balance between competing in athletics and academics.

"I am an English major and I minor in political science and International studies," said McDannel, who originally came to B-W for its pre-physical therapy program. "I changed my perspective on majors part way through my sophomore year and made the change to English because that is where I belonged. It was a great move for me.

"I have many things that I want to get accomplished in terms of further education and my career choice," added McDannel. "I do know that I want to continue my education in the field of creative writing. It is something that I really enjoy and want to further pursue"

At Berea High School, the two-time All-Pioneer Conference discus thrower was the recipient of the J.B. Crabbs Outstanding Senior Award in 2002. Her start in the field was unique.

"I joined the track team as a freshman in high school to keep in shape for basketball," said McDannel. "I just ended up being better in track. I am so glad. I love being a thrower."

McDannel came to B-W after looking at several colleges as a high school senior.

"I really wanted to go away to school, but after I checked out a few other schools, I liked B-W the best," said McDannel. "It had all I was looking for: a great track program, a strong academic reputation and I the ability to live on campus.

"It’s been really nice being able to have the best of both worlds," she added.

Another advantage to being close to home is that McDannel’s support system is never far away.

"My parents are my biggest influence. They were actually banned for half a season last year because I would throw terribly when they came to my meets," said McDannel with another smile and laugh. "I realized I was being unrealistic and now they are allowed to come to track meets. I do my best to make them proud and they are my biggest motivation.

"I am also very grateful for the group that I get to practice with everyday," she added. "They have all made this sport so entertaining. I enjoy going to practice and as a result, I want to do well for them too.

"I think the season has been tremendous so far," she added. "I am so proud of our girls. We have all been working so hard and we have really pulled together and now it’s time to finish strong!"