Southlake Carroll’s Madysen Hunter finds balance on, off the track

As a participant in the Carroll Medical Academy in Southlake, Madysen Hunter has a head start on a career in the medical profession some day.

On the running track for the Carroll Dragons, the senior has consistently stayed ahead of the field. And while she’s yet to decide what her specialty will be in medicine, there is no question what her top track event is.

Earlier this week, Hunter won the District 7-6A championship in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. She also holds the school record in both events, with her official times of 14.44 seconds in the 100 hurdles and 42.62 in the 300 hurdles, both of which are are among the fastest in the state.

And while she is chasing a berth at the state meet this season, away from the track she has also achieved much success. She was accepted into the Carroll Medical Academy as a freshman (students have to apply).

The daughter of a surgeon, she has not only learned about the medical profession in the classroom, but has also spent time watching professionals in their own arenas. She has interned with doctors, surgeons and even CEOs.

“My overall experience has been unbelievable,” she said.

Hunter has also worked with robotics, and she said bio-engineering is something that greatly interests her.

After this season, Hunter will further her studies at Notre Dame. She has committed to run track for the Fighting Irish. About 85 percent of Notre Dame students earned a high school varsity letter, according to the 2013 Princeton Review of Best College Values.

“I’ve always known it as the ultimate balance between athletics and academics,” she said of the school.

Which is also how Carroll athletic assistant Renae Osborne describes Hunter.

“She thirsts for knowledge academically, and that thirst also propels her to learn more about how to improve athletically,” Osborne said. “She is the most coachable athlete as she responds to instruction because she is cerebral.”

Hunter’s dream to run in college required more than speed and brains, however. It was only at the end of her junior season that she finally was completely rid of the pain that accompanied a stress fracture in her back that had plagued her since junior high.

“Once I got over that, it was a huge mental thing. It was an amazing feeling not having to worry about my back anymore,” she said.

The injury also made her consider a career in orthopedic surgery, though she did not require surgery herself. However, before she makes any career decision, she has something else to accomplish while she’s still a Dragon.

“I’m ready to run my fastest,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m just going to go out and enjoy what’s left of my high school career.”

CROSSOVER SUCCESS

Mansfield senior Mike Christopher, juniors Kennedy Brooks and Saiid Adebo, and sophomore Jackson Gleeson share more than a baton. Not only are they among the fastest quartets in Texas in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, they are also members of the Mansfield Tigers football team that reached the Class 6A Division II state semifinals last season.

Brooks is an all-state running back who rushed for more than 3,500 yards. Adebois an all-district receiver and defensive back, and Gleeson and Christopher are varsity receivers.

They were competing in the District 8-6A meet in Duncanville at press time, but their time of 40.78 in the 4x100 was tops in the area, best in 6A Region I and third in the state behind Fort Bend Marshall (40.55) and Manvel (40.66). Mansfield’s 1:25.89 in the 4x200 also leads the area, is second in the region to Denton Guyer (state best 1:24.84) and is sixth in the state.

Coach Mike Stout believes there is a connection between success on the track and the football field.

“When your track program is successful, it’s a direct correlation with your football team,” he said. “Most of our athletes in the field events and sprints all play football.”

TREMENDOUS STRIDES

Reed Brown of Southlake Carroll not only won the District 7-6A championship in the 1,600 meters, but he also posted the fastest time in the state in 4:09.12. That was nearly 10 seconds faster than his previous best of 4:19.08 this season.

He took over the state lead in that event by more than six seconds.

Brown was already second in the state in the 3,200 in 9:08.14 earlier this season. That leads 6A Region I and is second in the state to Samuel Worley of Comal Canyon with a 9:04.51.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Southlake Carroll’s Madysen Hunter finds balance on, off the track."