Colberg signs with Montana

PALMER -- Colony High School cross-country running standout Dominique Colberg has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the University of Montana running team.

Coaches, friends and family gathered in the Colony High School library to watch Colberg sign her letter of commitment. With a few strokes with a pen, Colberg officially became a part of the Grizzly running program.

"It is a great feeling, I am really excited," Colberg said of her choice. "There is no uncertainty now. I know exactly what I am doing."

According to Colberg, she has been seriously looking at schools since her junior year of high school.

"I looked through the different schools on the internet and also the coaches began to call," Colberg said. "This year I really narrowed it down."

Among her final choices in addition to Montana were Idaho, Tulsa and Jacksonville (FL). Montana flew Colberg down for an on campus visit.

"I visited Missoula and it was a lot like the Valley," Colberg said. "I wanted to go to a place that was similar to Alaska."

Colberg has seen great success during her tenure with the Knight running programs. In four Region III championships, Colberg has finished second, fifth and first in each of the last two seasons. She finished seventh in the state meet her freshman year, sixth her sophomore year, third her junior year and second her senior year.

Colberg is also a standout on the Knight track and field team.

In her first three seasons, Colberg has a second, third and fourth place finish in the two-mile final of the state meet.

Colberg has been considering running in college since her sophomore season.

"My freshman year, I started running for fun," Colberg said. "I kept working at it and then thought that I could do this in college."

In her talks with Montana head coach Tom Rauning, Colberg has been told that she can be a contributor in her first season.

"He thinks I will score points and help the team," Colberg said.

Colony head coach Mark Doner, a graduate of Montana State, believes that Colberg has the potential to be a quality runner at the collegiate level.

"She is a good runner mechanically and has the discipline and the work ethic to succeed," Doner said. "She will do well."

While speaking about Colberg at the signing Doner joked about his standout athlete joining the rival of his alma matter.

"I guess I will have to start rooting for Montana, at least in one sport," Doner said.