Madelyn Keating signed her NCAA Letter of Intent to Mississippi State for cross country and track and field Tuesday. Front row, from left: Stefanie Keating, mother; Madelyn Keating; Jerry Keating, father. Standing, same order: Joe Pizano, athletic director and head track and field coach; Eric Speece, principal; Kristen Lombardo, head cross country coach; and Dr. Jon Pollard, superintendent.
Tom Robinson | For Sunday Dispatch
EXETER — The season was over for all but the best of Pennsylvania’s cross country runners, but it was a busy time for Wyoming Area senior Madelyn Keating.
In a five-day stretch, Keating earned her latest state medal, made a college decision and the verbal commitment that goes with it, then signed her name to that commitment at the start of the latest National Collegiate Athletic Association Letter of Intent signing period.
Keating led all District 2 runners when she placed fourth in the state in Class 2A girls during the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships Nov. 4 in Hershey.
By Monday night, Keating had made her college choice, making it time to inform the coaches at Mississippi State University that she would take their scholarship offer for track and field and cross country. The signing took place Wednesday when Keating was one of four female Wyoming Area athletes to formalize their Division I scholarship commitments.
Keating placed fourth out of 243 despite some unexpected obstacles.
“At Mile One, I realized my shoe was untied,” said Keating, who finished the 3.1-mile Hershey Parkview Course in 19:34.8. “I actually went in with a head cold and the conditions were not ideal.
“So, even running with one shoe loose and a stuffy head, I still finished right where I wanted to and I’m very happy with that.”
Keating said that even in ideal situations, she could not have hoped for a much faster time or higher finish.
The state cross country medal was a second for Keating, who won the District 2 title this season.
Following the latest state medal, Keating made her college choice. She had made recruiting visits to St. Joseph’s and Bucknell along with Mississippi State, which had contacted Keating following the state track meet in May.
In track season, Keating won three gold medals and a silver in District 2, then finished third in the state in both the 1600 and 3200-meter runs.
“I was just reviewing the teams and the coaches and where I was most comfortable, where I could see myself,” Keating said. “It actually ended up coming down to the major.
“I want to pursue cyber security. I think the best opportunity for me to pursue cyber security in the future would be from Mississippi State.”
Keating will likely run many distances as a member of the cross country team in the fall, the indoor track and field team in the winter and the outdoor track and field team in the spring.
“I think my strength will probably be the 1,500 meter,” Keating said. “It’s the closest thing to a mile and the mile is where I already stand out.
“ … I have a natural endurance, but I also have the natural speed. It’s the perfect event. It’s long enough that I can stay in the mix a long time, but I also have that kick at the end where I can keep strong form and really close stronger than most athletes could.”
