Dugan heads to Hickory

Published 5:38 pm Thursday, May 19, 2022

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Northside track and cross-country standout Keanu Dugan will run for Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory this fall.

He won the 3200 meters and finished second in the 1600 at the east regional meet last weekend and will run both in this weekend’s state meet in Greensboro.

Dugan’s family moved to the area from Pennsylvania in September of 2020. The cross-country team qualified for the state meet, but couldn’t compete because of COVID-19. He ran three events in the state track meet in the spring, the team competed in the state cross-county meet last fall and he’s back in Greensboro again for track.

“He’s done some impressive things while he’s been here and it’s a product of his hard work and dedication,” co-head coach Ole Robinette said. “He’s also a mentor to our younger runners and him getting to run in college shows them that hard work pays off.”

Dugan will major in Engineering Physics and reports August 19th.

“I felt very comfortable in Hickory when we visited and the school’s weight room blew me away,” Dugan said. “It’s a great running environment and I know I can keep improving there.”

Dugan’s top memory of his time at Northside came off the track.

“Everyone at Northside accepted me quickly after we moved and that meant a lot,” Dugan said. “School had already started and the cross-country team was a way to make friends and meet people. I’ve enjoyed helping the younger runners improve and being on two successful teams with a great group of friends has been amazing,”