One for the Grizzlies, three for the rival Mountaineers.
Durango High School had a big signing day Wednesday, with four track and field athletes – four of whom also run cross country – signing National Letters of Intent with elite NCAA Division II programs.
Breann Hawman, a senior thrower on the Demons’ track and field team, signed with powerhouse Adams State in Alamosa, while cross-country and track stars Jordan Helms, David Moenning and Nicholas Turco all went with rival Western State in Gunnison.
“The kids came in as skinny little freshman. Now they’re all big and grown up and going to two of the best programs around,” DHS cross-country and track and field coach David McMillan said. “Truly exciting.”
Hawman, daughter of Charles and Vicky Hawman, has made a remarkable comeback from injury since September. She fell off a ladder and broke her back, leaving her in a back brace for eight weeks and subjecting her to six weeks of grueling physical therapy. She’s still regaining strength but is already off to a strong start this season.
“I had a very serious, life-threatening injury,” she said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to walk, let alone throw. I’m ecstatic to continue what I love to do.”
Hawman, who plans to earn a master’s degree in wildlife biology, is no stranger to making come backs. At the Class 4A state meet a year ago, Hawman scratched on her first throw before launching the shot put 35 feet, 9 inches to get into the finals. She finished ninth overall and earned her team a point.
She has even loftier goals this season.
“I’m not where I want to be, but I’m chasing the school record and all-state,” she said. “The school record hasn’t been broken since 1985, and I’m hoping to do it.”
Helms, Moenning and Turco were all part of Durango’s Class 4A state championship cross-country team in 2015. They will compete for cross-country head coach Jennifer Michel in cross country. Michel is to be inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame later this month. Chris Bradford leads the Mountaineers track and field team, assisted by Michel with the distance runners.
When Helms, son of Elizabeth and Tom Helms, took a visit to Gunnison, he noticed the names of 30 recruits on Michel’s wall. It made him nervous, but he was excited to see his name and the names of his teammates in the top six of those names.
All three boys were sold on the beautiful natural surrounding in Gunnison and are looking forward to continuing their running careers as teammates. Helms and Moenning, son of Amy and Joshua Moenning, plan to be roommates.
With great opportunity comes greater goals. The boys are excited to run year-round with cross-country and indoor and outdoor track programs but know it will be a new task.
“It sounds like a full commitment of your mind, body and spirit,” said Turco, son of Richard Turco and Jack and Jennifer Turner. “Coach (McMillan) has always been an advocate for really committing yourself as a person and athlete. I think we will be in a lot of ways prepared for the seriousness of a program like that, but there will be some surprises we’re not as prepared for.”
Moenning, who has equaled the No. 1 time in Colorado for his split in the 4x800-meter relay on the top-ranked 4x800 team in Class 4A, called it an honor to join such a prestigious running school. All three boys hope to be a big part of the rivalry with Adams State.
“We talk about how at Western we’re going to try to come up and beat them in cross-country,” Helms said. “We’ll have to see.”
Helms plans to study health and paramedics with a minor in business. Moenning is hoping to major in biology with a minor in business, and Turco said he plans to study both political science and psychology.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
