Adam Papin/MDN Mandy Schmidt, center, signs her National Letter of Intent on Friday. Schmidt plans to run track and cross country at Jacksonville University. She is pictured with, from left to right: Noah Schmidt, brother; Mark Schmidt, father; and Nichole Schmidt, mother.

Minot High’s Mandy Schmidt signed her National Letter of Intent to run both track and cross country at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. Schmidt signed the letter surrounded by friends, coaches and family Friday afternoon in the Minot High Magic City Commons.

According to Schmidt, she felt an instant connection with the program from her earliest conversations with head coach Jordan Garman.

“He found my NCAA profile, and I filled out the questionnaire,” Schmidt said. “After talking to him, I feel like we just clicked.”

After looking into the campus, Schmidt discovered Jacksonville had exactly what she wanted to study, and she also appreciated it was a private college.

“I just fell in love with it,” Schmidt said.

She plans on studying exercise science with the hopes of going into sports medicine.

“I really just want to improve my times, do the best I can, and improve each year,” Schmidt said. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Before Schmidt laces up for the Dolphins, a member of the Division I Atlantic Sun conference, she will finish her senior season looking to return to the NDHSAA state track and field meet.

“Mandy is an extremely hard worker and gives 110%,” Minot High girls’ cross country head coach Carla Wahlund said. “She has modeled that from day one that she joined cross country and track with me. Her work ethic has really provided strong leadership for our program.”

Schmidt closed out the 2023 cross country season with a personal record at the state meet, and she was consistently one of the Majettes’ top five runners throughout the year.

“She doesn’t like to be in the limelight, but she should be in the limelight more,” Wahlund said.