By Stacy Polkinghorne

Tabor Sports Information Intern

HILLSBORO, Kan. -- The cold Kansas wind sent chills through Tabor College Track and Field athletes at the recent McPherson College Invitational track meet. Despite the harsh, early season weather conditions, senior Chelsea Malone came to compete, and that is exactly what she did.

With the wind whipping at her hair and biting at her nose, Malone put everything out of her mind and focused on her first event, the javelin throw. With a technical skill that she has developed at Tabor and a competitive drive that has fueled her success for a lifetime, Malone threw the spear more than 120 feet, which was good enough for a fourth-place finish.

Immediately following the javelin event, Malone competed in the physically demanding triple jump, placing sixth with a distance of over 31 feet.

Following the first outdoor meet of her final season as a Tabor College athlete, Malone applied the familiar bag of ice to her left knee, and said that she was disappointed with her results. She resolved, however, to do whatever it takes to improve.

Malone, who grew up in as a hometown sports hero in the small community of Ellinwood, Kan., is a veteran competitor who has matured physically and spiritually through college sports.She is one Tabor's most enduring female athletes.

Malone, who will graduate this May with her Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration of Sports Management and Marketing, has played on two teams during her four years at Tabor, track and basketball. In basketball, she averaged four points and three rebounds in her junior year. In track, she helped the 4x400 relay earn 2^nd place in the KCAC Conference championship last season.

But the physical grind has taken its toll on her body. There were multiple injuries and surgeries along the way.

"In college I have had four injuries, the most painful of those was the ACL and meniscus repair, which happened my freshman year in basketball," Malone said, "After I had that surgery, three months into rehab, my meniscus wasn't healing right, so they had to go back in and do a meniscectomy. And while they did that surgery, they also did a labrum repair on my shoulder."

While constantly in pain, Malone says she has found the strength to persevere because of her shear love of sports, the thrill of competition, and her Christian faith.

"Whenever I jump, whenever I run, whenever I throw, I have pain, but the pain is something that I have become accustom to," she said," it's expected, I know it is going to come, but it doesn't bother me anymore, its part of the love of the sport."

Tabor Track and Field Coach Dave Kroeker appreciates the effort Malone puts in, knowing it is so painful for her.

"She has to train and then compete and has to deal with not only the physical part, but also the events she is participating in," Kroeker said. "She shows a tremendous commitment and fortitude and demonstrates kinds of things that apply in life outside of sports. Life is hard, and she shows that she will work hard and never give up, and she will be able to put what she has learned about working through it towards her career and relationships."

When asked what she thought about the phrase, "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger," Chelsea said that pain can actually make you weaker, and it can make you lose confidence in yourself and your abilities. But,she added, it makes you stronger, mentally.

Whenever Chelsea needs to refocus and get her mind straight, she looks to Deuteronomy 31:6. "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you or forsake you."

Despite the injuries she has endured, being at Tabor has allowed Chelsea to make friendships that will last a lifetime. The memories with her teammates will be with her forever; even the bus trips she took with her fellow athletes were special.

Malone's highlight moment was during the final seconds of a home basketball game against St. Mary's two seasons ago. With the score tied, Malone hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. It was one of the most exciting and glorious moments of her sports career.

As she prepares to end her college career, Malone shared some hard-earned wisdom with those young athletes who will follow her.

"Give your body a rest, even though you don't feel like you need it," she said. "Slow down and enjoy the moments, and don't try to rush to the next level."

In addition to her victories on the court and in the field at Tabor, Malone, the daughter of James and Debbie McCormick, and Curtis and Martha Malone, will be the first in her family to graduate from college.

"Graduating college is something I always dreamed of," Malone said. "I never imagined I'd ever really make it this far."