Galadriel Mellion wanted to be a runner. However, after a few races and a few last-place finishes, she discovered running wasn’t for her, and then she probably made the best decision in her young life. Along with her father, Mellion decided that maybe she could find more success throwing the shot put and discus. And now, seven years later, Mellion, a Junior at Weston Ranch High School, is one of the Nation’s most elite high school track athletes.
“It all began for me in the 5th grade at Great Valley. I wasn’t doing too well as a runner, and my dad suggested I try to shot put.”
And it was this advice that catapulted Galadriel to superstardom. Since then, Mellion has traveled all over the United States for competitions. In addition, Mellion competes “unattached,” which means she’s not affiliated with any school or club. So it was just her and her dad and a bright future out on the road. And what a road it has been for the Weston Ranch High School junior.
Since the fifth grade, Mellion has competed in USATF and Junior Olympic events in both the shot put and discus. To date, she is a 6-time All-American (top 8 finishes) and a 3-time National Champion (once is shot put and twice in the discus). She has collected 53 gold medals and two silver medals. She holds school records at Lathrop High School (where she attended her freshman year before transferring to Weston Ranch in the middle of her sophomore year) and at Weston Ranch. The Stockton Hall of Fame awarded her Athlete of the Month for August 2018.
Perhaps the most fantastic of the above accomplishments was when she competed in the Golden West Invitational in 2019. While competing as an 8th grader against some of the best high school throwers in California, Mellion took first place and set a season record, tossing the 6lb shot 42 feet, 10 1/2 inches.
In fact, it has been a long time since Mellion has not finished first in any of her meets. In 2017, she won the only event where she marked. In 2018, she placed first in all nine events for the discus and collected first place in eight out of the nine meets throwing the shot put. In 2019, she earned first place in four meets for the shot put and took first in four meets for the discus and a fourth place in another.
So, as she piled up the medals and collected the hardware, Mellion approached the high school season with great expectations. However, in 2021, Galadriel had two knee surgeries which sidelined her from May through October.
“I needed to have corrective surgery to fix some issues in my knees,” Mellion said. “Whenever I turned to throw, my kneecaps would dislocate, so I had one done in May and the other in October. Taking time off wasn’t fun, but getting the issues fixed should help me in the future.”
Galadriel is back on solid ground and ready to compete for the Cougars. Today’s tri-meet with Central Catholic and Mantec, hosted by Weston Ranch, will be the first time she will take the field since her surgeries.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there,” Mellion said. “I really hope I just continue to push myself and improve.”
The accomplishments have garnered attention from colleges. Mellion said, “I’m getting letters from Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, and Penn State. I don’t know what will happen, but it’s been a great experience, and hopefully, I can turn this into a college scholarship. I want to major in business. I want to own my own business one day, and track may help me realize my dream of owning a business and owning the whole block.”
Events for today’s track meet at Weston Ranch begin at 4:30.
Photos courtesy of the Mellion family
