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Bulldogs’ Newton signs on with Glenville State

Photo courtesy Randall Jett/The Doddridge Independent Doddridge County sprinter McKenzie Newton, pictured here running a leg on the Bulldogs’ 4x200 team at the state track meet in Charleston earlier this year, will continue her career as a student-athlete for the Pioneers of Glenville State College.

WEST UNION — After a very competitive track season and her final year running for Doddridge County High School, McKenzie Newton has signed on to compete for the Glenville State Pioneers track team.

“First of all, I’m just really thankful to come from Doddridge,” said Newtown. “We just won our 19th state championship. My (high school) coaches really know what they’re doing.”

Newton became interested in running early on in the sixth grade and has stuck with the sport ever since. As a track and field athlete she competes in the 100, 200, 4×100 relay and the long jump.

“My best event is the long jump,” said Newton.

Newton’s running and drive for competition has also been fueled by those closest around her, including her family.

“All of my family are track runners,” said Newton. “Growing up around that … it’s something I really wanted to do.”

The college search for high school athletes usually begins, for the most part, during their last semester of their final year in high school. Newton made numerous college visits to different higher-ed schools during this time, but once she visited Glenville, she knew that was where she wanted to go.

“For me, I knew I was going to Division II,” said Newton. “I talked to almost all the Division II schools. I went to four schools for visits.”

Shopping around for a college is a delicate operation for an upcoming student-athlete. Not only do you need to find a school and a home away from home, but you also need to find a team and a coach. In Newton’s case, she had the opportunity to discuss her position on the team with Glenville State’s head track and field coach Nick Spino.

“A big reason why I chose Glenville was because other colleges just wanted me to long jump for them,” said Newton. “Coach Spino was like ‘No. You’re good enough to be a multi-event athlete.’ He wants to make me just as good in any other event where he may need me as I am in long jump.”

Glenville State impressed Newton with the clean campus and also it’s relatively new WACO athletic facility, which first opened on the campus in 2014.

“I didn’t know much about the college or the program, but I took a tour with another track coach and instantly loved it,” said Newton. “After my tour I talked with Spino for about three hours. After our conversation I was sold. I committed a few days later.”

Newton has already decided that she will be studying criminal justice as she competes as a Pioneer athlete this upcoming school year. She will be attending the school on a scholarship for her work in high school.

“I’m ready to move on,” said Newton. “I love Glenville and I can’t wait to move on. I’m already starting my summer training.”

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