By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Thompson High School senior track and field athlete McKenzie Hogue won’t be traveling very far to continue her academic and athletic career after graduation, which has brought a sense of relief to her THS coaches.

“It’s exciting that you’re staying pretty close to home. Hopefully you’ll continue to be a familiar face around the program and continue to be a positive influence as you have been already,” said THS assistant track and field coach Mason Dye. “We’re so excited to see you go on to the next level.”

Hogue, who has had a storied career during her time with the Warriors, signed a track scholarship with the Samford Bulldogs during a Nov. 15 ceremony in the THS cafeteria while surrounded by friends, family members, coaches and teammates.

Hogue has been a force with Thompson, and has won state championships in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter races in indoor and outdoor track, and holds runner-up trophies in cross-country and the 800-meter races.

“You are by far one of the best, if not the best, distance runner in the state of Alabama. You’ve set every distance record here at this school,” said THS head track coach Chris Schmidt. “You are feared in the state in the distance world. We definitely want to thank you for what you’ve done here at this program and for this team. You mean so much to us.”

During the ceremony, Hogue’s parents thanked God for giving her the opportunity to excel on the track and continue her career at the next level.

Schmidt said the team is looking forward to having Hogue for its upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons.

“We’re so proud of you. It’s been our privilege to coach you the past two-and-a-half years. Obviously, we wish we had another two or two-and-a-half years to go,” Schmidt said. “You’ve accomplished so much during your time here at Thompson. You are a Warrior, and you can see that every time you line up.

“When you got here, you were a really, really good athlete. All we had to do was fine-tune you, and we didn’t realize we were creating a monster. You are one of the first ones at practice and you are definitely one of the last ones to leave,” Schmidt added. “You excel on the track, you excel on the cross-country trail and you excel in the classroom. Samford University should feel honored and privileged to have an athlete like yourself representing their school next year. Your parents and grandparents have molded you into a wonderful human being.”