The fourth-ranked Bishop Chatard girls track team showed it's capable of turning heads by winning 76-55 at Brebeuf Jesuit on Tuesday.

With 17 seniors, coach Dan Kinghorn has a veteran squad.

"I think this is as good a team as we've ever had," Kinghorn said. "We have excellent sprinters, good throwers and hurdlers as well. Our cross country team was seventh in the state last fall, so that helps a lot."

Senior Kelly Gardner, who signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Davidson University, throws both the shot and discus.

Gardner is on pace to challenge state competitors in the discus, and her career-best of 125 feet would have put her in the top 10 at the state meet last season. Her goal is a toss of more than 143 feet, which breaks the school record.

Gardner feels motivated because of injury-related frustrations in her real passion, basketball. Gardner suffered three torn anterior cruciate ligaments in her knees and fought back from all three.

The first, in her right knee, came before her freshman year playing basketball on an AAU team. The next two happened to her left knee on the same date two years apart.

"The last two weren't an issue of the problem recurring," said Gardner, who spent four months rehabilitating the most recent injury. "It was a freak accident. I bumped into someone, and it happened again."

Davidson graduated three starters, so it's a good time to be an incoming freshman. Davidson (23-9), a member of the Southern Conference, earned its first postseason berth in the NIT, where it lost to Alabama-Birmingham 81-77.

Davidson coach Annette Watts, who has watched Gardner mature over the past three years, looks forward to having her on the squad. Gardner's 4.1 grade-point average indicates she can bring intelligence to the court.

"I love Kelly's basketball IQ," Watts said. "Of the games we saw her play last year, her shooting and ability to score was tremendous. As a guard, her rebounding ability will be a big asset.

"She has such a love for this game, and that's another reason we want her. She's mentally so tough and so thankful for every moment she has on the court. I expect her to come in and contribute immediately."

After three surgeries, Gardner isn't hesitant or afraid to compete. She is more concerned about getting past regionals, where she stumbled last season.

"I won sectionals last year," Gardner said, "but kind of choked in regionals. It's something that I've eventually put behind me, but I'm not going to let it happen again."

Watts looks forward to adding Gardner's determination and attitude.

"We need players like Kelly to win in this conference," Watts said. "Kelly can help us get there. We're looking for big-time impact, and she's such a winner. She leads well, and that's what we need. I can't stop talking about her."

Bishop Chatard returns to action against Pike at 5 p.m. today at Lincoln Middle School in Pike Township.