Parkersburg High School distance runner Ellie Hines (1007) will continue her running career at West Liberty University. (Photo provided)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg High School distance runner Ellie Hines made it official on Monday afternoon that she’ll continue her career as a student-athlete at Mountain East Conference Division II member West Liberty University.

“I’m running cross country and track, so it will be cross country season when I first get there and around this time it will be indoor and then outdoor track season,” admitted Hines, who after track season this coming spring will have earned eight athletic varsity letters.

“I’ve done a few (indoor) meets here and there. I usually don’t compete indoor. Last year I did Marshall and Marietta College. I just do two or three indoor track meets just to stay in shape and get ready.”

As a freshman in cross country, Hines was the only Big Red to advance to Ona. The past three seasons, Hines helped the red and white cross country team go from seventh place to sixth place and then fifth place at this year’s Class AAA state meet.

“That was the only college that I actually like visited and when I got there I loved the campus,” admitted the Big Red. “It was so beautiful up there.

“The coaches are super nice, super willing to help. They text me at least twice a week already. They have a really good nursing program.”

Hines, who said she might go into nurse anesthesia, admitted “I want to do like the RN to BSN and then you can work your way up.”

The Big Red, who said she had a 4.0 GPA last grading period and carries a 3.8 GPA, almost decided to give up running.

“I kind of like at the beginning of the season, I didn’t honestly want to continue, but then after I ran my senior year I was like I really love doing this,” Hines admitted.

“I’ve been running cross country since sixth grade and I was like I can’t imagine just stopping now. I still could have four more years to compete. I always knew I wanted to run (in college).”

Hines, who said she has taken two college English classes, isn’t just a student-athlete.

The past two-plus years she’s worked at the Frostee Shoppe in Vienna, but had to change jobs.

“The Frostee Shoppe wasn’t going to work with my timing, so I now work at The Root Beer Shack and I work from like 11-3 and then I go to practice,” said Hines, who only goes to school a half day. “It’s really not that bad.

“It’s just a lot of you got to go here and you got to go there and you got to go back there. Some days I’m just like I’m tired. I get Sunday and Monday off and I come home, go to school, do whatever and then just go to practice.”

Hines noted her favorite event in track, and she didn’t know why, is the 1600.

“I just love it and I definitely like cross country better than track just because you’re not running in a circle and there’s some different variety to the races,” she said. “I like them both, but I would definitely pick cross country over track. I’m definitely a little bit nervous going out on my own, but a lot of my friends graduated last year and I notice they never come home anymore, and they just love it.

“I definitely see myself coming home on the weekends, maybe the first semester. The work, I’m a little bit nervous about the work, but I know I’ll maybe have a little more free times considering I live there. I’m worried about it, but not worried that I’m like making myself sick about it. I just know that I want to graduate nursing school then after that do the CRNA or whatever I can get into.”

The Big Red, who ran a leg on the Class AAA fifth-place 4×8 team this past spring, also said she could perhaps one day see herself becoming a travel nurse.

“As the years go on I just want to drop my times,” Hines said of college while adding the red and white girls “we’re going to be good this year. My goal for my senior year is to make it to state in the 4×8 and maybe the 1600 and 3200.

“I’m excited about that. I’m excited about getting out and away to compete for a new school and accomplish new things. I’m excited for it, but I’m always nervous. I also think every college person is.”