Catherine Collins, a runner on the girls cross country and track team, confirmed her commitment to Smith College on Dec. 16.
In cross country, she runs the 5k, and in track, her main focuses are the 800 meters, the 1600 meters and the 3200 meters. As captain this year, Collins has quickly made a name for herself at WHS, dominating the courses and tracks, including being a part of the first girls cross country team to win sectionals since 2004.
Collins will be joining the Pioneers in the fall of 2023. This past season, they came in 27th out of 32 colleges in the NCAA Division III Championships in November and finished their season with a winning record in The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Smith College is located in Northampton, Massachusetts, and joined NEWMAC when it was created in 1985. The Pioneers will look to continue their success with the help of Collins.
Collins also looked at a few other schools in NEWMAC and NESCAC, but to her, attending Smith was an easy choice. “No other school had the combination of rigorous academics, competitive athletics, an open curriculum, and a strong sense of community that it has,” she said.
What really put Smith over the top for Collins was the feeling she got on her overnight visit. “I instantly felt at home amongst the team and knew I wanted to be a part of the amazing community.” Ultimately, the mixture of all these factors is what made Smith the perfect fit.
Collins has one full season left with the Blue Devils in the spring. She will look to continue the program’s winning culture in her final season and carry it into Smith. She said, “I’ll always remember the amazing friendships and accomplishments I’ve made through the Westfield programs, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for me as I continue my athletic journey to college.”
