Lewis-Clark State College cross country and track team coach Mike Collins has signed Chelsey Leighton, a senior at Lapwai High School, to a letter of intent to run for the Warriors next year.
Leighton signed with the Warriors on Thursday morning at Lapwai High School.
“We are very pleased about adding Chelsey to our family here,” Collins said. “Those who are familiar with Lapwai and its traditions in sport excellence don’t need any reminders about who Chelsey is and what she has already done there. She most recently finished her basketball season as a starter on their state championship team and has been a part of that team that has qualified for state since she has been in high school. However, we recruited her to run and she has rewritten the record books at Lapwai and we expect that before she is done here at LCSC she will do the same.”
Leighton finished third her sophomore year in the 400 meters in the Idaho state Class 1A Division II meet and then was second a year ago. She also was a part of the record-setting 1,600 relay team, which won a state title last year.
“She definitely has some speed,” Collins said. “We are hoping to apply that speed to her cross country running as well this fall. We anticipate that she will train more specifically this summer for cross country as her time in the past has been limited because of her participation in basketball, volleyball and about every other sport you can imagine.
“There are so many qualities that we love about her that we have no doubt she will be successful here. She has a great personality and I already like being around her and I am sure her teammates will feel the same. Additionally, anyone that has competed with her and/or against her can attest that she is a fierce competitor and has an extremely strong will to win and she is more than willing to work hard to make that happen. All are qualities that we are looking for on the team.”
Collins said her roommate next fall at LCSC likely will be Annie Kane, who was recently signed by the LCSC women’s basketball team.
