Kenai Central senior Jaycie Calvert inked a letter of commitment Feb. 11 to run cross-country and track at Division II University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Calvert joins a Colorado Springs program that finished 11th at the women’s Div. II cross-country championship meet last fall. The Mountain Lions preceded that with a fifth-place finish out of 15 teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, then took fourth out of 30 programs at the NCAA South Central Regional meet, helping the Mountain Lions earn an at-large bid to the Div. II meet.

Calvert captured the Div. II Alaska cross-country running state title last fall with a convincing victory on the Bartlett High School trail system. The win helped the Kenai Central girls claim the Div. II team championship as well, and capped a stellar individual season by Calvert that was full of race wins, helping attract offers from several Div. I schools, but Calvert ultimately chose Colorado.

“I am excited to have Jaycie join the Mountain Lion Cross Country and Track program next year,” said Colorado Springs head coach Corey Kobatzky in a press release. “It is clear that she is a great athlete with a lot of potential, but more importantly, we look forward to adding someone who has her academic drive and personal character.”

Calvert is also a Region III champion in the girls 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, which she accomplished last spring. Calvert will be pursuing a degree in Sports Management or Journalism.