A year ago, Maryann Ackerman stood on the podium at Shippensburg University, a second-place state medal slung around her neck.

Ackerman, only a sophomore, had blitzed her way through the track and field season at Slippery Rock High in the javelin, breaking the school record, and then extending the mark.

Again. And again. And again.

She topped out at 147 feet, 5 inches — good enough for fourth all-time in Butler County. She was also good enough on a blustery day at Shippensburg last May to place second in the state and set herself up for even bigger things this season as a junior.

Only, there would be no this season.

Instead, Ackerman — who is also a standout basketball player — had a lost year.

“It was a series of unfortunate events,” Ackerman said. “Everything built on top of each other.”

It started just two weeks after the state meet. Ackerman was getting ready to compete in the javelin at the outdoor nationals and was also playing in a basketball summer league when she jump stopped and felt a pop in her right knee.

She had a feeling what had happened — her ACL had snapped — but she immediately went into denial.

“I wouldn't say I knew right away,” Ackerman said. “I didn't want to think what happened had actually happened. People say you always hear a pop. I heard a pop, but I convinced myself I hadn't. I didn't want it to be torn. I was supposed to go to nationals.”

But it was torn and two weeks later she had surgery.

Returning for basketball season was iffy, and Ackerman made the decision to not rush her recovery so she could be 100 percent for track and field season.

“The plan was always to take my knee month to month. I was cleared two or three days before the (state basketball playoffs),” Ackerman said. “I could have come back, but honestly I probably would have just hurt the team.

“(Slippery Rock girls basketball coach Amber Osborn) made me feel part of the team,” Ackerman added. “No one looked down on me. I appreciated that a lot.”

Ackerman was healthy and ready to go this spring.

And then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Then school was canceled and then spring sports.

Ackerman was again sidelined for a season.

“We had about two solid weeks of practice before everything shut down,” Ackerman said. “I didn't feel too far behind. At the same time, it's hard to judge myself in practice.”

Ackerman said she feeds off the competitiveness of competition to drive her.

She has missed that the most.

“I'm a really, really competitive person,” Ackerman said. “This year has really mellowed me out.”

This was supposed to be the weekend when Ackerman would be chasing a state title.

The PIAA Track and Field Championships are always held on Memorial Day weekend and since her final throw last May, Ackerman had been eager to get out to Shippensburg — and win it this time.

“I definitely think about that a lot, even more now,” Ackerman said. “It's kind of disappointing. I have to remember that this is not just happening to me. It's happening to everyone. I'm still bitter about it.”

It also is providing Ackerman with some serious fuel for next year.

“It's definitely motivating me,” Ackerman said. “It's made me want to train myself to be even greater.”