GRAVETTE -- Jordan Neeley's route to college track will also be a return to her younger days.
The senior sprinter, who lived in South Carolina before her family moved to Northwest Arkansas during her freshman year, will head back to that area. Neeley made that happen Wednesday when she signed her national letter of intent to run track and cross country at The Citadel.
"My whole family is from there," she said. "I love the area, and Charleston is gorgeous. I fell in love with the school at first sight, and ever since that's where I wanted to go. The Citadel is an amazing school with a great business program.
"The track program there is great. I actually spent the night with some of the girls there and was part of the team. I'm looking forward to what is head of me."
Neeley has mainly been a sprinter during her high school career, but she made the transition to cross country ranks in the fall and flourished. She finished 13th in the Class 4A state meet with a time of 21 minutes, 56.2 seconds and helped Gravette finish fifth in its classification.
She has also done well in the track ranks, starting with her win in the 400-meter dash during last month's Panther Relays in Siloam Springs. She claimed three wins in her last meet, taking the 100, the 200 and the 400 during the Blackhawk Relays in Pea Ridge, and has season-bests of 13.04 seconds in the 100, 27.12 in the 200 and 1:02.14 in the 400.
"I'm probably going to run cross country in the fall, then run the 200 and the 400 during track," Neeley said. "Right now, I'm still trying to pre-qualify for state. I need to get a 1:01.49 in the 400, so I'm training for that right now.
"When I get that, I'll be able to go to state. I'm training hard and getting ready for The Citadel now."
Also on Wednesday, Shannon McKnight said she considered not playing volleyball during her senior year at Gravette, but there's no doubt about the move to the next level.
McKnight extended her playing days Wednesday when she signed a national letter of intent with Henderson State.
"I'm just ready to get the ball rolling, move in and start play," McKnight said. "There's a bunch of new freshmen coming in there, so it will be a new start for me and the team.
"I'm not really sure what the coach's plans are for me. When we talked, she said to come and be ready to do what I can. I'll give it all I can, and we'll see where that takes me."
McKnight was a two-time all-conference selection for the Lady Lions, where she compiled 186 kills, 315 digs, 47 aces and 42 blocks. She was named Gravette's most valuable player following the 2014 season.
Sports on 04/14/2016