Track and field standout Hardy signs with Minot State
On Wednesday afternoon, Minot High senior Jenna Hardy officially signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her athletic pursuits at Minot State University.
During a small gathering at the Magic City Campus, Hardy, a track and field athlete who specializes in the shot put and discus events, revealed that Minot State was the only college she was seriously considering as part of her immediate future. “It’s really close to home, and I can live at home while I go to school,” Hardy told the Minot Daily News. “I just really hope I can contribute to the team and be successful.”
Academically, Hardy plans to prepare for a career in the health care industry while studying sonography. Within the realm of athletics, she aspires to close out her high school career on a high note this coming spring. As a sophomore, Hardy concluded the 2019 season with a fourth place finish at state in discus.
Unable to compete in track and field last year as the entire Western Dakota Association’s spring sports calendar was canceled due to the coronavirus, the future collegiate student-athlete is eager for the 2021 season to begin. “We started off the season just practicing and then it got canceled a few days before our first indoor meet was supposed to happen, so it was kind of a bummer that we didn’t get to have any meets that year,” Hardy said.
A Minot native, Hardy is looking forward to working with the MSU coaching staff, which includes head coach Mark Del Monaco, who coaches both men’s and women’s track and field, as well as cross country. Now in his fourth season with the Beavers, Del Monaco has led MSU to 32 Division II era school records in indoor and outdoor track and field. The discus thrower and shot putter believes the superior communication skills of Del Monaco and the rest of Beaver staff has led to program’s success. “They are good at telling you what you’re doing wrong, and that helps when you don’t know what you’re doing wrong,” Hardy added. “I think they are very persistent, and very helpful with everything in general, so I can’t wait to get started.”