Marion native Amanda Gricus has been living and breathing track and field since she was a student at Old Rochester Regional High School.

Years of hard work paid off on March 9 when Gricus, now a senior at Westfield State University, finished second in the 20 lb weight throw of the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championship.

At Grinnell College in Iowa, Gricus beat her own personal school record of 58 feet, 8 inches throwing the 20 lb weight an even 61 feet.

“It was really exciting,” she said. “It’s the top competition in the country for college track and everyone strives for it. I went in ranked sixth, but I finished in second place.”

In May Gricus will graduate from Westfield State with a double major in environmental science and in regional planning.

Between studying for two majors and practicing, Gricus says life can get a little hectic.

“There’s usually a meet every weekend and homework every single day,” she said.

“I did nothing but eat, sleep and practice, but it kind of worked out for me. I never imagined it would go this far.”

Originally a soccer player, Gricus said she joined the Old Rochester Regional girls varsity track and field team to keep in shape during the off-season.

It didn’t take very long before she became devoted to track and field, she said.

It was with the track team, she said, that her dedication to practice really grew.

“I loved track at ORR because it was like a family,” she said. “I still keep in touch with my coach, Bill Tilden, and ask for advice.”

In high school, Gricus was a hurdler and jumper.

Soon after she began her sophomore year at Westfield State, Gricus was injured running track.

While she worked on getting back on her feet, Gricus switched her attention to throwing.

“What I really like about track is that it’s a team sport but you also have a lot of individualized players,” she said. “You play for yourself and for the team.”

Since graduating from Old Rochester Regional in 2008, Gricus said she has had to increase her workouts to compete at the university-level.

“The college level is much more competitive and intensive in training,” she said.

“You have to devote a lot of time to it. To do that you really have to love it.”

Leading up to the Division III competition, Gricus took a semester off from Westfield State to devote herself to training.

Last fall, she worked with a personal trainer in Scituate three times a week, and spent the rest of her time working on strength.

“I’m continuing to work out, and I’ve really been putting in time in the weight room,” she said.

When she graduates from Westfield State in May, Gricus will take on an internship at a regional planning agency in Taunton.

Though, she said she has no plans for retirement from track and field any time soon.

“I’m going to continue to throw recreationally, but I have no big plans,” she said.

“I’m certainly not training for the Olympics.”

Gricus says she plans on competing in meets held by the Greater Boston Track Club, an organization in Boston for runners looking to compete after college.

With the Track Club, Gricus will also be able to continue training with coaches.

“There’s a lot of opportunity for people to compete with them,” Gricus said.

“They do it for fun, and that’s what I want.”