Running has become a big part of Veronica Stinnett’s teen years, and after countless miles and hours of training it has paid off for the Bonney Lake High senior.
Stinnett became the first BLHS senior to sign with a Division 1 college for cross country and track.
Before a cafeteria full of students and staff at lunch Thursday, Stinnett signed a national letter of intent to compete with Sacramento State. She is the first member of their 2010 recruiting class.
“Veronica is a very well-rounded distance runner who will make a significant impact on our program in track and cross country,” said coach Scott Abbott.
Two other colleges – New Mexico State and San Diego State – were also courting the Panther standout.
“I chose Sacramento State because it has a good track program,” Stinnett said. “I really connected well with the team, felt at home there and liked the coaches.”
She’ll compete in cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring for the green and gold Hornets.
The Sacramento State women’s indoor track and field team is ranked seventh in the West Region by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association.
Stinnett competed in cross country for three seasons and finished 10th at the Class 3A state championships in November with a time of 18 minutes, 56 seconds. Her best time was 18:38.34 in the 3.1-mile race. She cut 52 seconds off her 2008 personal-best time of 19:30.1.
She was the South Puget Sound League 3A champion in 2009 and received USA Track and Field Junior Olympic cross country all-American honors in 2007.
At the BorderDuel Track Classic, Oregon versus Washington, high school dual meet in Portland, Ore., in June, Stinnett finished a close second behind Kayla Nagunst of Rainier, Ore., in the 800-meter run. Stinnett’s time was 2:16.73 – .20 seconds behind Nagunst.
She posted her best time of 2:16.16 in the 800 at the Golden West Invitational last summer. Stinnett finished eighth overall against the best runners on the West Coast.
In track last season, Stinnett posted a personal-best time of 5:13 in the 1,600-meter run, her best mark of 61.80 in the 400 and an 11:53.17 in the 3,200. She was also a member of the 4×400 relay team.
“It has been the hard work and determination that Veronica has put into her training during the off season that has paid off,” Panther cross country coach Andrew Foster said. “Veronica set her sights high and now she is getting rewarded. We’re really looking forward to watching her compete this up coming track season.”
Stinnett is the daughter of Jeff and Susan Stinnett of Bonney Lake.
