Redshirt freshman thrower Mckenzie Scheil is making her mark at WSC this season. The Fillmore Central High School graduate was named NSIC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week to open the outdoor track and field season following her top performances in the first couple meets of the outdoor season.

Scheil competes in the shot put and hammer throw for WSC while double majoring in Criminal Justice and Counseling.

“I chose to go to Wayne State because of the small class sizes and the small community feel,” Scheil said. “Wayne has felt like home right away in my in my freshman year. I also chose Wayne because I knew coach Suckstorf was the best coach around and the track and field record spoke for itself. Having four national champions and 28 All-Americans is impressive. It was hard to pass up an opportunity to do the same in such an impressive program.”

Scheil posted a first place finish in the hammer throw (173’ 8”) and recorded a second place finish in the shot put (45’ 10”), with provisional marks in both events at the Alex Francis Track and Field Classic hosted by Fort Hays State in the opening meet of the outdoor season to lead WSC.

Scheil’s marks in both events currency lead the NSIC while ranking 12th in NCAA Division II in the hammer throw and 22nd nationally in the shot put.

“As a team we always stride to become better athletes every day, just getting the chance to go out there and doing your best is the main goal for every meet,” Scheil said.

This past weekend at the Concordia Invitational in Seward, Nebraska, Scheil posted a top mark in the hammer throw of 182’ 6” to place second overall. The throw was a NCAA provisional mark and currently takes the sixth place spot in NCAA Division II. Scheil also recorded a sixth place finish in the shot put with a mark of 43’ 4 1/4”.

“My main goal right now is getting ready for conference and nationals,” Scheil said. “Focusing on the little stuff in the beginning is super important. Technique is huge right now and I want to be perfect so that when the big meets come up I’ll know that to change and do it at my best ability.”

Scheil and the rest of the track and field team will be back in action at the Sioux City Relays on Friday and Saturday and the UNK Loper Invite in Kearney on Saturday.