We continue our look back at a championship week for Dordt University track and field as the Defenders prepare to travel to the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Florida. By the time this story is published, Dordt's national qualifiers will be en route, and among them is junior weight throw national qualifier Makenna Walhof.

Full Interview

Walhof is coming off a defining performance at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships, where she claimed the GPAC title in the weight throw with a personal-best mark. For Walhof, the gold medal was meaningful,  but the way it happened may have meant even more.

"I was just overall really happy with it," Walhof said. "Conference is something we train for all season. All of our lifting and practices build toward that meet, so to be at our best and come away with a big PR was really exciting."

While personal records are often the measuring stick in the throwing events, Walhof's focus entering the meet was slightly different.

"Usually I'm focused on improving my last mark," she said. "But at conference, I was more concerned about placing and scoring as many points as I could for the team."

That team-first mentality paid off. She hit her winning mark on both her third and sixth throws  and  stood 80 centimeters ahead of the runner-up, giving Dordt valuable points early in the day. Competing at noon, one of the first events on the schedule, she helped set the tone for what would become a championship Saturday for the Defenders.

By the end of the meet, when the 4x400-meter relay crossed the line to secure the team title, Walhof was no longer inside the throwing ring. She was trackside, celebrating.

"That moment was just so fun," she said. "We knew how important every point was. Getting to run around and cheer on the 4x4 and then celebrate together,  that was such a cool experience."

For a group that often trains on its own corner of the facility, the throwers are tight-knit. Walhof credits that bond — especially with teammate and fellow national qualifier Fran Travis — as a major factor in her growth this season.

Throwing is an individual event. Once an athlete steps into the circle, it's just her and the implement. But the preparation is anything but solitary.

"We have a really good balance," Walhof said. "We push each other to improve and be better, but we're also constantly cheering each other on. If I'm having a good day and she's having a good day, that's just awesome."

That dynamic will travel with them to nationals.

After narrowly missing indoor nationals a year ago, Walhof hit the automatic qualifying standard earlier this season at the Dordt Open, lifting a weight off her shoulders and allowing her to focus on continued improvement. She gained valuable experience last spring competing at the national meet outdoors, and that familiarity has helped steady her mindset heading into this year's indoor championship.

"I learned a lot about handling the pressure," she said. "It's a big stage and you're competing against some of the best. But I've seen a lot of these same girls before, so that helps. It makes it feel a little more comfortable."

Walhof is honest about the nerves that come with competing at the highest level — but she also knows herself well enough to understand how she performs best.

"I don't throw my best when I'm overthinking," she said. "I do my best when I'm having fun and joking around with my teammates. I'm really excited that Fran will be there too. Having that lighthearted experience helps me focus on competing instead of stressing."

That combination — individual excellence and shared experience — has defined her junior season. From learning the weight throw as a complete newcomer in college to standing atop the GPAC podium, Walhof's progress has been steady and hard-earned. What began as a technically challenging, even frustrating event her freshman year has become a strength built through countless hours in the weight room and ring.

Beyond the circle, Walhof is pursuing a degree in civil engineering, with hopes of working in design, particularly with smaller communities. It's a field that requires precision, patience and attention to detail qualities that translate well to the finely tuned technique of the weight throw.

But before returning to design plans and coursework, there's one more opportunity waiting in Florida.

"I'm definitely looking forward to the warm weather," she said with a smile. "But mostly, I'm just excited for another chance to compete. I love track meets. Getting to do that on a big stage, with my teammates there, is going to be so much fun."

From GPAC champion to national qualifier, and with teammates by her side,  Walhof's season isn't just about how far she can throw. It's about how far this team can go together.