In May of 2014, Wright City’s Brittany McPike stood on the podium in Jefferson City after finishing seventh in the state discus competition.

Four years later, she became the best weight thrower in Missouri State University history.

McPike won the Pittsburg State Invitational in January after recording a final toss of 18.10 meters in the weight throw, breaking the previous school record held by Jelani Kelly (17.69).

“I can’t describe the feeling of breaking the school record, other than it being simply amazing and surreal,” the college senior said earlier this week. “This has been a goal of mine for a while now, and for me to accomplish it fairly early in the season was incredible. Even more so, because my parents were there to witness it as well.”

The transition from high school to college athletics can be challenging for any athlete.

McPike faced an even bigger hurdle.

She had to learn a whole new event.

After tossing shot put and discus for the Wildcats, she added the weight and hammer throws to her arsenal at Missouri State.

“The biggest transition was the familiarity and comfortability,” she said. “With shot put and discus, I was familiar with the technique and implement, because I had four-plus years of previous experience.”

She called the transition intimidating at first.

“I had never heard of these events, let alone watched them before,” she admitted. “The thought of doing the rotational turns with a heavier implement was way out of my comfort zone.”

The grueling college schedule took time to get used to as well.

Instead of the three-month high school track season, McPike realized college sports can be a year-round affair.

“I didn’t realize that in college there are two seasons: Indoor and outdoor. So our fall semester is strictly training, and then our spring semester is our traveling season,” she said. “We travel almost every weekend to compete in different states, which is nice because we get to see new places.”

McPike said she was recently accepted into the accelerated Master’s program at Missouri State, and plans on pursuing her MBA before joining the business world.

Before trading in her track uniform for business clothes, she said she has high expectations for her final track season.

“My biggest goal for outdoor season is to break the hammer school record,” she said. “Also, I really want to improve my personal best marks in the discus throw and shot put. Basically, I just want to execute my technique and improve my performance overall.”

Whatever happens the next few months, McPike said she wouldn’t have gotten where she is without the help of a former coach.

“(Wright City track coach Fred Ross) was the one who introduced me to track and field, and I don’t think I could ever thank him enough for pushing me to try out,” she said. “He’s been there for me since my freshman year of high school and has continued to check in and watch me develop as an athlete, and he’s even made the time to come watch me compete at multiple meets. He has been such an influential person, not only in athletics, but in my life in general.”