Track team member breaks twenty eight year old record

By Brianna Lehr and Gabriella Young 
​Business Manager and Staff Writer 

For junior Madisen Kling, track isn’t just something she enjoys. It runs in her blood, it’s a family tradition.
Kling is an all around athlete, turning heads in every sport she plays. Kling has been playing soccer for six years and track for five years.

She has earned the starting varsity soccer goalie position since her freshman year and is now a top discus thrower as well. 

In fact, Kling plans on continuing her track career after high school. She wants to go college and wants to earn a scholarship of some kind, in order to throw discus. 

In terms of this season, Madisen believes she has had a pretty good season so far.

​“I’ve had some rough patches or rocky starts but I think that I’ve always managed to push through,” said Kling humbly.
Despite rocky starts and rough patches, Kling made an astounding achievement this season. She broke the 28 year old discus record, made by Nan Strawbridge in 1989.

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“It felt amazing when I broke the record. It was also kind of weird because I didn’t know I broke it until my teammate told me,” said Kling.

Kling’s success continues when she earned 8th place out of 20 of the best discus throwers in the world at the Penn Relays Invitational in Philadelphia on April 27.

With victory comes struggle, in her freshman year, Kling began to have worrisome back pains. 

After several doctor visits, she was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis, along with several stress fractures. 

This spinal disorder affects the lower back and can seriously impact an athletic career if not treated immediately and efficiently. Unlike most, this disorder inspired Kling to push herself to the best of her abilities. 

“I’m always pushing myself to do better,” Kling said. “I am constantly looking at others to see what they are throwing- to push myself.”

She continues to push herself to be the best she can in both discus and soccer.

“It’s the adrenaline rush that keeps me going,” Kling said. “The thrill of watching it fly through the air.”

The love that she shares for this sport is what sets her drive apart from everyone else. If this injury can’t stop her, then nothing else can.

​In fact, Kling came in first place for discus at the 2017 District 3 track and field championships. Her distance of 141 feet and 5 inches and won her a gold medal and a spot in the States competition.