Hannah Peterson will attend the University of New Hampshire for both cross country running and Nordic skiing. She signed her letter of intent Wednesday, joined by her parents, Chris and Jen Peterson, and DHS athletic director, Roxanne Perrin, Nordic ski coach, Gary Colliander, and DHS cross country coaches David McMillan and Bret Wilson.

Steve Lewis/Durango Herald

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Hannah Peterson will attend the University of New Hampshire for both cross country running and Nordic skiing. She signed her letter of intent Wednesday, joined by her parents, Chris and Jen Peterson, and DHS athletic director, Roxanne Perrin, Nordic ski coach, Gary Colliander, and DHS cross country coaches David McMillan and Bret Wilson.

Steve Lewis/Durango Herald

Hannah Peterson, who finished fourth in her age group at the U.S. Cross Country Skiing National Championships at Soldier Hollow, Utah, in January, signed a national letter of intent to ski Nordic at the University of New Hampshire. “I was primarily looking for a school to ski at,” she said. “It ended up where I could run, as well.”

Durango Herald file photo

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Hannah Peterson, who finished fourth in her age group at the U.S. Cross Country Skiing National Championships at Soldier Hollow, Utah, in January, signed a national letter of intent to ski Nordic at the University of New Hampshire. “I was primarily looking for a school to ski at,” she said. “It ended up where I could run, as well.”

Durango Herald file photo

Hannah Peterson led the Durango Demons with a 15th-place finish at the CHSAA Class 4A Girls Cross Country State Championships her senior season, and the Durango High School senior has parlayed that success into a running/skiing scholarship at the University of New Hampshire.

Steve Lewis/Durango Herald file photo

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Hannah Peterson led the Durango Demons with a 15th-place finish at the CHSAA Class 4A Girls Cross Country State Championships her senior season, and the Durango High School senior has parlayed that success into a running/skiing scholarship at the University of New Hampshire.

Steve Lewis/Durango Herald file photo

Hannah Peterson was looking for a school she could compete in Nordic skiing.

She found somewhere that will let her run, too.

Peterson signed her national letter of intent to the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday, combining the best of both athletic worlds.

“They have a really good program for both, and the coaches work together really well,” said Peterson, daughter of Chris and Jen Peterson. “In the program, I’ll be able to focus on both.”

Peterson finished 15th in 20 minutes, 16.8 seconds at the CHSAA Class 4A Girls Cross Country State Championships this year. She placed fourth – 36th overall – in the under-18 women’s category at the U.S. Cross Country Skiing National Championships at Soldier Hollow, Utah, in January.

The move to new Hampshire won’t be a complete departure for Peterson, who has family in the area, but she does think she’ll miss the Colorado weather.

“I’m mostly looking forward to it since it’s such a change,” she said. “It might be hard since Colorado has such awesome weather.”

Peterson would like to study education and potentially be a special education teacher.

“I was primarily looking for a school to ski at,” Peterson said. “It ended up where I could run, as well.”

kgrabowski@durangoherald.com