Royal signs with Sacramento State

Oak Harbor High School senior Adrianna Royal signed a letter of intend Tuesday, March 1, to run for Sacramento State next year.

Royal expects to participate in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track for the Hornets.

Sacramento State, a Division I program, is coming off four consecutive Big Sky Conference track championships.

Royal chose Sacramento State over seven other schools. She said, "I liked it the minute I got there...Their coach is young and I can relate to her, and they have a really good distance coach."

It's ironic that Royal would receive a track scholarship, she said, because at first she hated the sport: "I felt like a hampster on a wheel."

A switch to middle distance helped make the sport more enjoyable, she said. "Then I found out about the steeplechase and it seemed more exciting."

She has developed into one of the nation's top high-school steeplechase runners.

Royal plans on majoring in physical education and minoring in film.

Scott Abbott, cross country and distance coach at Sacramento State, said, "We were initially excited about Adrianna because of some of her accomplishments in the steeplechase event; however, once we began the recruiting process with Adrianna, we realized what a dynamic, bright and mature young lady she was, and it is for these reasons that she became a priority for us in recruiting."

Oak Harbor High School cross country and girls track coach Eric Peterson said, "Adrianna is a deserving individual for her scholarship. Over the last four years she has developed from a meek and quiet athlete to a fierce competitor that is committed to her performance goals."

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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