By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
EL DORADO - Add up all the miles Chloee Richard has run while training in her career, the El Dorado senior could’ve run to Magnolia and back several times. All those miles added up to another trip to Magnolia as Richard signed to compete in cross country and track and field at Southern Arkansas University on Thursday.
“(Running in college) has been a goal every since ninth grade, when I made it onto the varsity team,” Richard said. “It’s a relief. I know I’ll be going somewhere that’s great for me.”
Richard, who also drew interest from Central Arkansas, wants to study to become an athletic trainer.
“She’s a hard worker. She’s one that when you ask her to do something, she’s going to do it and then do some more. That’s what separates the good from the great,” said El Dorado cross country coach Sharonda Brooks. “At cross country, she was always at practice. Her grades were always good. She’s going to be very successful on the collegiate level.”
Richard finished 28th out of 83 runners during the 6A State Cross Country Championships in the fall with a time of 22:18.6. As a junior, she claimed the 6A state championship in the 1,600 with a time of 5:29.45 and was fifth in the 800.
“Chloee Richard has put in a lot of work over the years. She had a dream of one day signing with a college on an track/cross country scholarship and made it her goal to do so,” said El Dorado girls track coach Blakely Sanders. “She is the prime example of ‘you get what you put in.’ Chloee does the hard workouts in practice and then does her own workouts, running 5-to-10 miles on the weekends. She not only excels on the track but also in the classroom. She is a very sharp young lady. Anytime Chloee is met with adversity, she finds a way to overcome it. I couldn’t be more proud of Chloee, she is a great example of a true El Dorado athlete.”
Injuries have hampered Richard during her senior season. She hopes to be closer to full speed toward the end of the outdoor track season.
“I feel like most of my injuries are gone or will be gone soon so I don’t have to worry about that. I’ve gotten a lot stronger,” said Richard, who said she prefers track over cross country.
“I like to compete in all the events. There are more events in track. I just do a lot better with the mile and 800.”
Richard will try both sports at SAU, which has put more of an emphasis on its track programs in the past couple of years. Brooks, a former SAU basketball player, believes Richard can grow along with the program.
“I definitely believe she’s going to continue to get better. She’s very competitive. She sets goals for herself and she does everything possible to try to reach them. She’s going to continue to get better,” said Brooks.
“She’s been great for the cross country program. Her and some of the other leaders that have come through, have really helped build it. I appreciate her for that and all her hard work.”