In front of family, friends and coaches on Tuesday afternoon, Toll Gate senior Casey Gannon inked a National Letter of Intent to continue her track and academic career at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, next year.

Gannon narrowed her college choices down to Stonehill, Bryant University and Loyola University Maryland, but Stonehill just stood out as the right fit for her.

“I’m super excited, I just can’t wait to join such an awesome program next year,” Gannon said. “They’re a really successful team and really welcoming. I love the coaches and I love the whole vibe from the team, so I’m really excited.”

Gannon, who will primarily run the hurdles for the SkyHawks along with some sprinting, wasn’t always a track athlete, however.

In fact, she had her sights set on another sport up until midway through her sophomore year.

Once Gannon decided to commit to track, Titans’ head coach Norm Bouthillier and his staff helped mold her into an NCAA Division II-bound athlete.

“I can’t say enough about how everyone here has helped me,” Gannon said. “The coaches here are amazing. I was a gymnast up until my sophomore year, so I didn’t even start track until the middle of my sophomore year. It’s really awesome to have such a great opportunity as amazing as this with not doing track for two years. I’m just really thankful.”

Gannon was a natural upon transitioning to track as a sophomore, and it didn’t take long for the results to show.

As a junior, Gannon emerged as one of the top hurdlers in the state.

She posted wins in the 55-meter hurdles at the indoor Rhode Island Interscholastic League Class Championships, as well as at the Headley-Sullivan Division meet.

Gannon earned a spot on the podium at the state indoor meet as well, taking fourth before going on to place ninth at the New England Championships.

During the outdoor season in the spring, she also posted top-10 finishes in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles at the state meet to cap an all-around impressive season.

And Gannon will be looking to improve upon those results in her final high school season before heading off to Stonehill.

“I’m really excited for this year,” Gannon said. “I’ve been training hard, so I’m ready to go.”