It didn’t take Kate Hall long to make up her mind about attending Iowa State University.

“I almost instantly knew I wanted to make it my new home when I was on campus the first day I was there,” said the Lake Region High track and field star. “For me, (Iowa State) fits all aspects of what I want in a college.”

Hall, a senior, announced her college choice Thursday on her Twitter account. She visited the Ames, Iowa campus last week after making visits to the University of Georgia and the University of Oregon.

Hall, the 2014 Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram’s girls’ athlete of the year, holds state records outdoors in the 100 and 200 meters and the long jump. Indoors, she holds record in the 55, 200 and long jump. She has never been beaten at a Class B state meet.

Hall will receive a full athletic scholarship to Iowa State. The Cyclones women’s track team has produced seven Division I national champions indoors and 14 national champions in the outdoor season.

“After I visited Iowa State I knew what my decision would be. Also, I did want to decide early so I could focus on my senior year, but I decided if I wasn’t sure about my decision at that point, then I would have waited,” said Hall, who made her verbal commitment three weeks before the NCAA’s early signing period of Nov. 12-19.

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Last year at the New Balance outdoor high school national championships in North Carolina, Hall placed third in the 100 meters (11.45 seconds), sixth in the long jump (19 feet, 41/4 inches) and eighth in the 200 (23.98), giving her All-American honors in two events. Her time in the 100 prelims (11.58) is a New-England-best schoolgirl time, and Hall became the first high school girl from New England to break 24 seconds in the 200 meters. As a sophomore, Hall won the 55 meters at the New England indoor championships; at the outdoor New England championship she won the 100 meters and finished second in the long jump.

Her best time in the 100 meters outdoors is just out of reach of the Olympic Trials “B” standard of 11.38, which lets athletes into the trials if not enough make the stringent “A” standard.

“I have no doubt in my mind that my coach will do everything in his power to make me the best that I can be,” Hall said of Fletcher Brooks, the Iowa State jumps coach.

“Not only that, but the team atmosphere was everything I wanted there – friendly, welcoming, and also hard working with their eyes set on their future goals. Lastly and very importantly, ISU’s academic aspect filled the requirements very well with what I’m looking for.”

Hall plans to major in kinesiology, concentrating on exercise science while pursuing her goal of making it to the Olympics.

Hall is home schooled and has been coached by her father and her physical therapist and trainer, Chris Pribish. But Lake Region Coach Mark Snow said Hall is an exemplary team leader.

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“I feel Kate’s determination and work ethic will carry her far in college,” Snow said. “Competing at the Division I level in a top-tier conference will help her reach her goal of being an Olympian.”

Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com

Twitter: FlemingPph


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