Submitted photo – Madeleine Maher, center, was crowned conference shot put champion for Southern Virginia last week.

Former McKinleyville Panther Madeleine Maher is closing out her college career in impressive fashion.

Last week, the 2017 Mack graduate placed first in the shot put at the USA South Conference Track and Field Championships, helping the Division-III Southern Virginia Knights to a first-ever conference championship.

Maher’s winning throw was 11.72 meters and it gave the college senior an impressive double after she also won the event at the conference indoor championships in February.

Last week she also placed sixth in both the javelin (27.90 meters) and discus (32.70 meters).

Maher, who will graduate in May, is a double major in Biochemistry and Spanish and plans on returning to Humboldt  County to work for a year before applying to optometry school.

The former Panther was also honored with a conference sportsmanship award.

Maher was the 2017 H-DNL shot put champion.

The D-III college season runs for another month, culminating with the NCAA championships in Ohio in late May.