Gillett’s Hansen, Hanson sign letters of intent

Gillett Secondary School seniors Sylvia Hansen and Derek Hanson signed letters of intent to continue their running careers in front of family, teammates, friends and coaches on Monday in the school’s auditorium.

Hansen will continue her running career at Winona State University, while Hanson runs for Minnesota State University Moorhead. Both schools compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NCAA Division II).

Both runners plan to compete in both cross-country and track and field while in college.

“I really just think that it shows that my hard work has paid off,” said Hansen of signing. “I’ve been working for this for about seven years now and it’s just great to know that all the hard work that I’ve put into this, all the time I’ve put in, is finally helping me pursue my dreams that I’ve wanted to do for so long.”

“It means that my hard work, I can see it. When signing that paper, it’s a lot of joy and future potential that I think I can achieve,” said Hanson, who considered himself lucky to be among the high school athletes to sign and continue their passions.

Both runners were regular state cross-country qualifiers over their high school careers, with Hansen making it to state all four years and Hanson qualifying the last three years.

Hansen started her high school career with a third-place individual finish at state. She also qualified as an individual as a sophomore, claiming 27th.

She helped the girls team qualify for state in her junior and senior seasons. Hansen placed 32nd as a junior, the year the team placed second. This past fall, the Gillett girls claimed fourth, with Hansen leading the Tigers with a 20th-place finish.

Hansen said she ended up choosing Winona State after visiting the school. “I knew it was the place for me.”

“It’s very exciting. I’m just excited to see what’s going to happen in the future and what I may potentially be able to pursue and do there.”

Hanson also made it to state for the first time as an individual, finishing 43rd as a sophomore.

As a junior, he took 48th while competing alongside his team, which claimed seventh place. Hanson made it back to state as an individual this past fall, coming in fourth overall.

Hanson had nothing but good things to say about the MSUM program, but also noted how the school appealed to him academically as he chases his dream of being a sports medicine physician.

He got to meet some runners and the coach during his visits to the school.

“It felt great (to sign), essentially. It’s finally official. It’s kind of a weight off my shoulders. Now I don’t have to go through the recruiting process — not that it’s a bad thing — but it certainly is exhausting at times. It makes me happy to know I’m in a good program athletically and academically, so I really found the right fit of people.”

The duo has also made it to the state track and field meet in every year they’ve competed.

Hansen qualified for state in the 1,600 and 3,200 as a freshman and sophomore. She took second in the 1,600 and fifth in the 3,200 in her freshman season and then placed seventh in the 1,600 and 11th in the 3,200 as a sophomore.

Hanson has made it to state in the 1,600 twice. He finished 16th in the event as a freshman and then improved his finish to 10th as a sophomore.

Along with the rest of the state, both runners were unable to qualify for state this past spring, as the coronavirus pandemic shut down spring sports seasons.

Both athletes are hoping to get a season in this spring and create more memories before heading off to college.

Hansen says she will spend the winter preparing for the high school track season, which she hopes to end on the state podium (top six).

After his strong finish to his cross-country career, Hanson has aspirations of a state title for his senior track season, the sport Hanson considers himself a better runner in.

After the track season wraps up, the two athletes will look to their college coaches to provide them with training programs so they can hit the ground running when they step on campus this fall.

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