Pinnick sprints to a college decision

When Arizona State University - two-time defending NCAA Division I women's indoor track and field champion and the 2007 outdoor winner - offers a full-ride scholarship, why delay the decision?

That was the reasoning behind Waubonsie Valley track star Shakeia Pinnick offering the Sun Devils her verbal commitment on Sunday rather than waiting till December as previously planned.

"We didn't want to drag it out," said the nation's No. 1 female heptathlon recruit in her senior class.

As reported in the Daily Herald on Sept. 25, the eight-time all-state track athlete's final seven top suitors, all of which had offered full-ride scholarships, were Wisconsin, LSU, Oregon, Michigan, and the final three of Texas A&M, Arkansas and Arizona State.

Arizona State's national prominence, bolstered by having 1996 Olympic decathlon gold medal-winner Dan O'Brien as a multi-events coach and ASU graduate and 2008 Olympic heptathlon competitor Jacquelyn Johnson continue her training in Tempe, clinched the deal for an athlete tiring of fielding constant phone calls, letters and e-mails while juggling homework, cross country and track.

"Those two could obviously help my career as a heptathlete," Pinnick said. "They also want me to do some 400 (-meter) hurdles and some relays, so that could help me impact the team."

Pinnick's 5,053 points in the heptathlon at the 2008 Illinois Prep Top Times Multi-Events Championships were the nation's second most for high school girls, the most among juniors.

Since 2006 in IHSA competition she has three second-place finishes in the 300 hurdles, a pair of top-nine finishes in the 800 meters and one apiece in the 100 hurdles, long jump and the 200.

Her goal in track for 2009 is a faster start in the high school season. Her goal thereafter, under her future coaches at Arizona State, is more lofty.

"They believe I'm going to be able to compete in those (2012) Olympics," Pinnick said.