Academics influenced Durango High School cross country runner Alastair McMillan’s college decision more than athletics.
He signed his national letter of intent to Utah State on Wednesday, where he will be able to compete at the NCAA Division I level and pursue his degree of choice.
“They really had what I wanted to study, and I think a D-I program can really take me to the fullest of my potential, which is the reason you want to run in college,” said McMillan, son of David and Heidi McMillan.
McMillan will major in agribusiness at Utah State and plans to eventually earn a masters degree and own his own business.
Athletically, McMillan led DHS at the state meet this year with a time of 17 minutes, 47.7 seconds, which placed him 42nd at the CHSAA Class 4A Boys Cross Country State Championships.
McMillan grew up in Utah from when he was 10 years old until he was 16, and Logan, Utah, where Utah State is located, reminds him of that area.
“I’m kind of drawn to Utah in general, and it’s a lot like the town I grew up in,” McMillan said. “I think it balances a farm town and a college town really well, and that’s what I really like.”
Utah State’s men’s team finished sixth at this season’s Mountain West Conference championships, the Aggies’ first as a member of the MWC.
“I’m excited, I think it’s a really good fit for him,” said David McMillan, DHS cross country head coach and Alastair’s father. “I think he would have fit quite a few places athletically, but the combination of athletics and academics is just awesome.”
Alastair McMillan also considered CSU-Pueblo, but the ThunderWolves couldn’t offer exactly what he was looking for academically.
“That was the main reason I went with Utah State,” he said.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
