Columbus Catholic track athlete Alexandra Hutchison signs letter of intent to run at Winona State University

Columbus Catholic senior Alexandra Hutchison signed a national letter of intent to run track at NCAA Division II school Winona State University in Minnesota during a ceremony Wednesday. Her parents, Steve and Paula, look on. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)
Columbus Catholic senior Alexandra Hutchison signed a national letter of intent to run track at NCAA Division II school Winona State University in Minnesota during a ceremony Wednesday. Her parents, Steve and Paula, look on. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)

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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com

MARSHFIELD – Columbus Catholic High School senior Alexandra Hutchison has accomplished a lot during her athletic career, but she is nowhere near satisfied.

Hutchison, a three-time WIAA Division 3 state track champion for the Dons, signed a letter of intent to run for the Winona State (Minn.) University track and field team next school year during a full school assembly Wednesday afternoon in the Columbus Gymnasium.

Hutchison said she had considered a number of Division III University of Wisconsin System schools, including Stevens Point, Stout, and Eau Claire, but decided Winona State, an NCAA Division II school, was the best fit for her.

“It’s really exciting,” Hutchison said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a while now and it’s kind of a relief that I have a school decided on. I can relax and move forward.

“I really loved the location, it’s a beautiful campus, and when I went there and visited with the coach and athletes, it just felt like home.”

Hutchison set school records in the 100 meters (11.92 seconds) and 200 (24.79) last season before winning both events at the WIAA state meet in La Crosse last June.

Hutchison repeated as D-3 champion in the 200 (25.71) and won the 100 (12.82) for the first time. In preliminaries, she set a new Division 3 state meet record in the 200 with a time of 24.91.

Hutchison said she is looking to add to her state medal count next spring, not only in those two events.

“I definitely would like to set our school record in the 400 and go to state in that, and again in the 100 and 200,” Hutchison said. “I want to possibly win all three of them and set the records again.”

After that, it will be off to college, where she will set her sights on even more lofty accomplishments on the track.

“I hope that I will eventually become a conference champion and eventually become a national champion. That is my goal,” Hutchison said.