CMB seniors sign with Grand View

After competing together on the course and the track for the past few years, Collins-Maxwell-Baxter seniors Ashley Girard and Hayley Leonard will be doing so at the college level as well.

Both runners signed with Grand View University this month, with Girard making it official a few weeks ago and Leonard signing on Wednesday.

Although she suffered an injury during cross country this season, Girard has been a multi-sport athlete for the Raiders for years. Some of her accolades include two appearances at the state track meet in the 4x400-meter relay.

She also saw limited action near the end of basketball season after recovering from her cross county injury just in time to see the court.

She is expected to run the 800 leg in the team’s distance medley relay this spring.

“Ashley is a great all-around student-athlete,” CMB coach Jerry Meinerts said. “ She will be a great addition to Grand View’s track and cross country teams.”

Leonard has been key figure in the Raider cross country program, especially in her past two seasons. In 2011, she was not only CMB’s lone state qualifier, but the entire county’s as well. On top of helping lead this year’s Raider girls to state in cross country, she also qualified for state track in the 4x800-meter relay in her freshman season. She led CMB with a time of 16 minutes, 6 seconds for a 22nd-place overall finish at this year’s state cross country meet.

“Hayley is a very dedicated runner and will be missed next year,” Meinerts said. “She will be a great addition to Grand View’s track and cross country teams.”