Glacier's Hill chooses Colorado

Glacier distance runner Annie Hill has committed to run collegiately at the University of Colorado, continuing the pipeline of top distance talent from Northwest Montana to the Centennial State.

Hill, an all-American cross country runner who has won a pair of Class AA state championships, chose Colorado over Stanford and Oregon.

The Buffaloes are one of the most successful distance programs in the country, including a third-place finish at the NCAA championships last season and two national championships since 2000. Colorado has won the Pac-12 the last two years and is currently the third-ranked team in the country entering conference championships.

Hill, who also carries a 4.0 GPA, plans on studying integrated physiology in Boulder.

“Every school that I looked at had great academics,” Hill said. “Colorado’s no different. I felt that I can be super successful academically there. I’m very excited.

“The coaches are amazing. I love the team. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t absolutely love.

“It’s super beautiful. I just felt really comfortable. It’s kind of like home.”

Her selection continues the Flathead Valley pipeline to the team, with Flathead graduate Zach Perrin running his senior season and Bigfork grad Makena Morley in her junior year. Missoula Hellgate’s Adam Peterman and Chris Herrick are also on the Buffs’ cross country team.

“I know Makena really well,” Hill said. “I’m really excited to be her teammate the next couple of years.”

In total Colorado has had 122 all-Americans, 34 conference championships, seven national championships and four individual national champions in the last 24 years.

“I was really drawn to a program that I knew was amazing,” Hill said. “I’m super excited to go to college and give over my training to a new coach and be able to trust them and let them take me to the next step in my running.”