After earning national medal, Chipps looks ahead to senior season

Brooklynn Chipps, of Elgin, earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as a part of the Wayne State College track team, in Allendale, Michigan.

"I qualified for nationals my first meet of the outdoor season. It was my first true outdoor meet, so it felt great to be able to do that," Chipps said.

The championships took place May 26 through 28. Chipps participated in hammer throw. She threw 58.81 meters to complete a third-place finish.

"Nationals is always a great atmosphere, with a lot of talented athletes. To know that I placed in the top of all the D2 schools was a huge honor," said Chipps.

A 2018 graduate of Clearwater Public Schools, Chipps qualified for state track both her sophomore and senior years of high school.

"I just loved being in sports in high school, so I was always involved in a sport throughout the school year. Wayne State was the only college that reached out to me to throw for them," Chipps stated.

Wayne State College and a positive attitude have both contributed in shaping Chipps into the athlete she is today.

"Throwing in high school and throwing now are on opposite ends of the spectrum for sure. What got me ready for moving onto competing collegiately was that I would like to say I am easy to coach. I'm willing to make changes where changes need to be made. I trust the programs and most importantly, I trust my coach," Chipps mentioned.

She will be starting her senior year at Wayne State College in August, giving her one more year to compete.

"I look forward to getting stronger, getting better, and staying healthy for my last competing year at Wayne State," Chipps expressed.