By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – Helena High School standout track and field team member Kirsen Gardner will continue her athletic and academic career at Jacksonville State University after inking with the Gamecocks during a recent National Letter of Intent ceremony.

During her time at HHS, Gardner has excelled at track and field by compiling three individual state championships since 2017.

Garner won both the indoor and outdoor AHSAA shot put titles in 2017 and repeated as the indoor shot put state champion in 2018.

Garner’s state championship winning shot put throws include throws of 39 feet 3 inches, 38 feet 7 inches and 37 feet 10.25 inches.

Garner will join a solid JSU track and field program that has earned six first or second team all-conference selections in throwing events such as javelin, discus, shot put and hammer in the last two seasons.