Since fifth grade, sophomore Maggie Ewen has been competing in track and field. As a freshman and now, as a sophomore, she has taken the state championship in discus. Her next goal is take first in the nation in discus at the youth nationals competition and compete at the national level in France.

“When I was younger, I saw Alicia, my older sister, practicing it at first,” said Ewen, “then I tried it out and ended up liking it. My dad, who was a thrower, is a really good coach. He helps me with my technique and other technical things to improve my throwing.”

Being a patient person has given Ewen the ability to continue to succeed in throwing discus and shot put. On Friday, April 29, Ewen competed at the invitation only meet at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She threw a meet record, breaking the school record for shot put with a throw of 45’ 11.75”.

“I was excited when I found out,” said Ewen. “I was like,  it’s a new P.R. – personal record. It was announced that I had broken the record with my scores.”

Maggie Ewen has achieved many things in her short high school career. For the week of May 1 to May 7, she was honored as the Kare 11 Athlete of the Week. Throwing coach Mark Hanson was proud of Ewen when she was awarded.

“It was well deserved,” said Hanson. “She took shot put and discus at the Hamline Elite Tournament. She has made  both new records for herself and for the Hamline Elite Meet. It’s good that she is getting recognized.”

Humility is the one common adjective  people use when describing Maggie Ewen. Coach Andy Forbort says she is shy, until she gets comfortable with you, then she is quite humorous.

“She is an admirable athlete,” said senior Adrienne Lindahl who has known Ewen for over six years. “She has grown up in a humble home that hasn’t let her ego get to her. She is honestly my best friend, and even though she’s younger than me, she is a great teacher, coach and motivator.”

Winning the state championship in discus as a freshman, and now as a sophomore has landed her name on a plaque in the Commons with the names of other athletes who have competed and placed at state tournaments.

“I am speechless,” said Ewen. “I have never compared myself to athletes like Joey Benik or Adam Zutz. But it felt really good to finally achieve winning the state championship. It was like this sense of accomplishment for me. I would work really hard and practice all the time, and so it was just a good thing to feel since that was my goal for that season.”

Good work ethic is something that is dominant in Ewen’s life. Even with all of this focus on track and field, she still finds time to maintain a 3.9 GPA. In the off season of track, Ewen plays volleyball in the fall and spring and trains at camps during the summer time. But she throws all year, even when there are inches of snow on the ground. She explained that her dad will set up a tarp in their barn and that way she can throw all year, even in the middle of Minnesota winters.

“I hope people know her for more than just her track and field achievements,” said Forbort. “She is much more than that. Once she gets out of her shell, she will be a prominent vocal leader on the team.”

In her free time, Ewen draws. In the opinion of some of her fellow teammates, she is an excellent artist. But when it is brought up, she smiles, receives the compliment and thanks you for it, and moves on with the conversation.

“I don’t know how to even comprehend all of my achievements,” said Ewen. “I don’t know how to feel other than really good for every achievement I have received. I work really hard, and so every time I win, I just get this sense of acknowledgement and achievement.”

To see coverage on KARE 11 go to: http://www.kare11.com/sports/article/921920/24/State-discus-record-broke-by-Maggie-Ewen