Mount Vernon's Fab Five sign to participate in college track

The Mount Vernon track team celebrated five outstanding athletes on Monday.

The five seniors — Colin Hoffman, Kennedy Howard, Elizabeth Lebold, Brady Mills and Lucy Rush — all signed Letters of Intent to participate in athletics in college this fall and were honored at a ceremony at the Mount Vernon track.

Hoffman signed to throw at Olivet Nazarene University. It doesn’t matter to him whether it’s shot put, discus, javelin, weights or hammer; he said he’ll throw it all at college. His best throw in shot put for Mount Vernon this year was 43-foot-9, and he has thrown the discus 108-10.

He plans on studying engineering at the university in Illinois.

“Colin stumbled upon throwing by attending a throwing camp after his seventh-grade year,” said Mount Vernon throwing coach Lindsey Lamp. “He learned about the events. He has set goals each year to achieve in specific areas. His ultimate goal was surpassing 40 feet in the shot put. We’re very proud of the hard work and dedication he did to get that.”

Howard will be heading out west to Montana State to compete as a pole vaulter.

She is currently in the top 10 nationally with a school record leap of 13-foot-3 at the Lakewood Relays this spring. She plans on majoring in business at Montana State.

“I’ve seen Kennedy push past every mental barrier,” said MV track coach Kathy Thayer. “I think you are put against a struggle that you ultimately have to figure out for yourself, it makes you a stronger human. She has worked past all those anxieties; all those fears. All the dedication and time she’s put in has really paid off.”

Rush will make her way to Cedarville this fall to run cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track. She plans to major in finance.

She has broken MV school records in the 1,600-meter run (5:03.74, set in 2025) and 3,200 (10:51.01 set just last week).

“She is very competitive. Behind that smile is a competitive edge,” Thayer said. “She wants to push herself and continually grow. One of things is Lucy will never be stagnant. She wants to continually improve to get better and make herself accomplish the goals she sets.”

Mills will be heading down the street to Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The sprinter who ran the 100, 200 and 400 this year plans to participate in track at MVNU.

“One of the things we seek to do at Mount Vernon Nazarene University is build a championship program that honors Christ,” said MVNU coach Kyle Abney. “We seek excellence. Lucky for us, Brady is an excellent young man across the board. We are thrilled to welcome him.”

Lebold plans to be a two-sport athlete when she arrives at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology this fall. The senior who participated in pole vault, long jump and high jump on the MV track team will also swim while majoring in mechanical engineering at the university in Indiana.

“There may not be anyone more dedicated than Elizabeth. She did two sports every winter; she would swim and was part of indoor track. This girl never missed a thing,” Thayer said. “She just has a passion and love for what she does and a drive to continually get better. That is something we’re going to miss.”