Bellingham hurdler Doucette signs to run track at Idaho

Bellingham High School hurdler Ben Doucette has signed an NCAA Division I National Letter of Intent to run track for the University of Idaho, the school announced in a press release last month.

“I chose to continue my academics and athletics at the University of Idaho because of the culture of excellence the coaching staff is building,” Doucette said in the release. “The school has a culture, which I find very appealing, as well.”

Doucette placed second in the 110 hurdles in 14.75 seconds as a junior last spring at the Class 2A State Championships and also helped the Red Raiders’ 4x100 relay team place fifth. He also placed 15th in the 110 hurdles at the 2015 USATF Nation Junior Olympics.

“Ben is a natural leader and will fit well with our mission here at Idaho,” Idaho coach Tim Cawley said in the release. “Our men’s sprinters and hurdlers are thrilled to have him on the team.”

Doucette said he chose the Vandals over Washington and Hillsdale College, mainly because of the technical ability of the coaching staff and the friendly atmosphere around the team.

Doucette, who has twice been selected student of the semester at Bellingham and is serving as the student government president, said he plans to major in exercise science while at Idaho.

The Idaho men placed 11th at the Big Sky Conference Championships last spring, and the Vandals have high hopes for a talented hurdling squad in the years to come.

“I am very excited to be training with such a talented group of like-minded people,” Doucette said. “Training with other athletes always makes it easier to push myself.”

Before he heads to Moscow, Doucette said he’d like to run a sub-14-second race this spring and break the Red Raiders’ 54-year-old record in the event.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Bellingham hurdler Doucette signs to run track at Idaho."