Galadriel Mellion has dedicated her life to track and field for the past eight years of her life. While most people spent their free time relaxing, Mellion traveled across the country with her family chasing down a dream to become one of the Nation’s premiere shot put and discus throwers. After collecting 53 medals, six All-American titles, and three National Champion titles, Mellion will see the fruits of her labor come to fruition as she signs a national letter of intent with Arizona State University, where she will join the Sun Devils’ track and field program for the Fall of 2023.
“It’s a new beginning for me,” said Mellion. “I’m excited to move to Arizona. I like the diversity. The campus was so beautiful, and so many things about the university made my decision to accept their scholarship offer easy.”
This was the second time Galadriel had to think about her future as a track athlete. Her first decision involved whether running was best for her to compete. After a few not-so-great finishes, Mellion and her father decided she could find more success throwing the shot put and discus. And now, eight years later, she had to make the second decision about her future as a track athlete: where would she continue her education and track career?
“I had a few schools to choose from but thought Arizona State would be the best fit for me,” said Mellion. “I liked the culture and the academics and the coaching. I want to major in business, and Arizona State was right for the degree I want to pursue and to continue my track career.”
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 in the 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.
Mellion’s competition in last Spring’s VOLs and the CIF Section Finals was to understand how much the ASU scholarship was earned and is well-deserved.
Mellion cruised through the VOLs to earn her place on the podium. Her shot put toss of 42’08.5 during the VOLs was a season record, and she outdistanced her closest competitor by five feet. Likewise, her discus throw of 131’04, while not a personal or season record, outdistanced her nearest competitor by 30 feet. And then it was on to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Final.
At the CIF, the competition was a little more challenging in the discus, and Mellion found herself in a strange spot going into the final round.
“I was in third place before my last throw,” Mellion said. “I wasn’t nervous because I made some adjustments in the circle. I just said, ‘whatever happens will happen.'”
Galadriel let it fly, and the disc landed 137’6 away from her. It was enough to overtake the lead, and it was also a season record. But, again, she took the podium and walked out as champion. It is a testament to this humble student-athlete and how much she has grown in the sport. Winners find a way to win, and Mellion did just that.
And now, Galadriel will win again as she will begin a new adventure in the Pac-12, where she will compete against athletes representing track programs like Oregon, USC, and UCLA. Of course, the competition will be greater, but competing against the best is what she has done most of her young life, and the dedication, hard work, and perseverance will no doubt give her the edge she needs the first time she stands in both the shot put and discus circles.
“I’ve had a good time here at Weston Ranch,” Mellion said. “I like the teachers and am happy about my education here. I’ll miss my coaches and friends, but Arizona State will open many doors I want to walk through.”
Galadriel will sign her letter of intent on November 9 in the Weston Ranch High School library.
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