The Wofford College multi events athlete from Dorchester competes in the
Southern Conference track and field championships this weekend
Thursday, April 29, 2021
By Rob J. Ross
SPARTANBURG, N.C. - Megan Dunn is chasing 5000.
The Dorchester native will be aiming for the point total in women's heptathon, at the NCAA Southern Conference (SOCON) outdoor track and field championships, May 1-2, at Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
"I want 5000 points and the school record," said Dunn, who attends Wofford College, a Division 1 school, in Spartanburg, North Carolina. "I just need to be consistent and have a good day in each event. As long as I have a good day and not a bad day, I will be able to reach (5000)."
Heptathlon is a multi event contest competed over two days, featuring the 100-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put, the 200-metre sprint, long jump, javelin throw and the 800-metre run. Points are given in each event, based on time, distance or height.
At a meet earlier in the season, in Durham, North Carolina, Dunn set a personal best (PB) total in the heptathlon of 4,938.
"I was really happy with my heptathlon. I was not expecting to do so well after a few weeks off," said Dunn. "I have lots of room for improvement in many of my events so I am looking forward to conference."
Over the past two weeks between her last meet and conference, Dunn will be dividing her attention at practices equally among the seven events.
"There isn't a key event. I need to perform well in all events," Dunn said. "My focus is on staying healthy so that I am able to do my best at conference. I will be training equally in each event."
Dunn has battled injuries throughout her career, most notably shin splints during her freshman year in 2018.
In year two as a junior, Dunn won the heptathlon silver medal with 4798 points.
Last year's outdoor conference championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A strong indoor season, capped by winning the pentathlon at the SOCON conference championships, in February, boosted Dunn's confidence when track and field moved outdoors.
When a meet doesn't have the heptathlon, Dunn competes in open women's events for added practice.
Dunn had four top 10 results at her first out door meet in late March, including a bronze medal in open women's javelin. A week later, Dunn took silver in javelin and helped Wofford's women's 4x400-metre relay team place third. Then Dunn had her heptathlon PB of 4938 points.
"I could have got 5000 points in my last hep if I had thrown javelin better," said Dunn, referring to the Durham meet.
Dunn did throw the spear well at an invitational meet, April 16-17, taking home another bronze medal, while also placing top 10 in the 200 and shot put.
"I threw well. The wind caught one of my good ones and stopped it short (of taking over the first place throw)," said Dunn. "I ran well in the 200 and had some good throws in javelin. I didn't throw how I wanted to in shot put but it still okay."
Conference will mark the final meet for the biology major, who will continue her education at Salus University of Pennsylvania College of Optometry, in Philadelphia, this September.
"I am just going to focus on myself and train," said Dunn. "Mainly have fun. This is my last go around so I'm going to enjoy it and take everything in."
Four years in the American south has gone by quickly for the 2017 graduate of Lord Dorchester Secondary School.
"Unbelievable, actually. I feel like I just moved down here," said Dunn.
As of April 26th, spectators are not allowed at meets, but Megan's parents, Dave and Kendra, will certainly be following online.
Dunn has been named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll in each of
her three years, fourth year pending and on the SOCON Spring All-Academic Team
twice. Dunn has been Indoor All-Southern Conference twice, Outdoor All-Southern
Conference once and selected to both the indoor and outdoor SOCON All-Freshman
Team.
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