Hartland's O'Connell Signs With MSU Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. ?€“?€“ Mississippi State head track and field coach Al Schmidt has announced the signing of Arrowhead High School's Abbey O'Connell of Hartland, Wis. to a national letter-of-intent. O'Connell will begin competing for the Lady Bulldogs during the 2005-06 season.
"We are really excited about signing Abbey," Schmidt said. "She will be a great addition to our team and our university. We feel that Abbey is going to be an important part of our cross country and track and field teams in the future. It is rare to find athletes that have both her kind of talent and work ethic. We couldn't be more excited about having Abbey become a Lady Bulldog."
O'Connell has been a three-time all State selection in cross country and two-time all-State selection in track for the 4x400- and 4x800-meter relays. Her personal bests include 2:17 in the 800-meter run, 5:10 in the 1600-meter run and 11:20 in the 3200-meter run.
"I'm really excited to be coming to MSU," O'Connell said. "I know the competition in the SEC is tough. I feel that Mississippi State is the place for me to be and feel I will do well there. I feel like the team will become a family to me since I'll be away from home."
O'Connell is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in intramural sports at AHS.
The daughter of Julie and Tim O'Connell is expected to major in biological sciences at MSU.