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Maloney makes it to big time

Demons’ runner is going to Division I

Utah State University – Durango High School northwest.

Shannon Maloney became the second runner for DHS to sign a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Aggies when she made her commitment official during the early-signing period.

The DHS senior will run cross country and track and field for the Division I program in the Mountain West Conference.

“I’m nervous that I’m going to be running against a lot of really amazing runners, but that’s also the exciting part,” Maloney said during a signing ceremony at DHS last week. “But that’s also the exciting part. I’m going to push myself and see how well I can compete against them.”

Maloney, daughter of Melissa and Murdoch Maloney, said the small-town feel of Logan, Utah, mixed with the Division I athletics made it an easy choice.

Plus, she is familiar with the team after DHS head coach David McMillan’s son, Alastair McMillan, signed with the Aggies a year ago. Both McMillan’s attended the signing ceremony.

Coach McMillan is thrilled to see Maloney attend Utah State, where she will run for women’s coach Michael Spence.

“Shannon liked smaller colleges. We thought Division II might be a good place for her, but Utah State has the small-team feel,” coach McMillan said. “It’s a young team, and I think it is a perfect time for her to go. She has D-1 credentials, and it’s a small D-1 that fits her.

“Mike Spence is a young guy that ran at the highest level, representing the U.S. The program is very stable, and the whole program is based on educating kids and teaching them about running.”

Last year, Maloney twice broke the DHS record in the 800-meter run, and she also has the school’s 5-kilometer record in cross country, She also held the 400-meter track record for two years before it was broken, and she has been on the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams that own the school records.

As a sophomore, she finished third at the state cross country meet, and her 4x800 relay team took second her freshman season. She also has a fifth-place finish in the mile to her record.

“I didn’t coach her her freshman year, but she transitioned about ¾ of the way through that year to be the No. 1 runner on the cross country team,” coach McMillan said. “When she ran at state as a sophomore, it was like ‘What college do you want to go to?’ She breaks records every year, and even when she feels like she doesn’t have a great year like last year, she still set indoor (personal records) and broke the 800 record twice.”

Even with all her high school success, Maloney already is targeting ways to improve before she arrives on campus in Logan.

“I definitely want to lift a little more and build up more muscle before going and running with them,” she said.

With two Division I signees in as many years, coach McMillan is excited to see the Demons’ program once again on the upswing.

“Getting kids like Shannon to the next level, D-1, that’s huge,” he said. “It speaks volumes about the kids and Laura Knapp and folks who have helped her get to this level.

“The program is ascendent. Not quite where (Ron) Keller had it in the 90s, but we’re turning back to where we’re turning out one or two kids out every year to compete, so that’s fun.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com



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