Track and cross-country star Danielle Nunley signed a letter of intent yesterday to run for Dallas Baptist University. The four-year cross-country starter led the Lady Jackets this year finishing near the top in every race.

Nunley began her cross-country career here with a bang, competiting in the state meet as a freshman.

"Sick girls were sick that day," Coach Coby Bird said. "She stepped right up and ran her personal best that day."

Nunley has other personal bests she wants to persue and DBU offered her the best opportunity to fulfill those goals.

"I want to do missionary work when I finish college," Nunley said. "I hope to one day open my own orphanage in Africa."

DBU, located 13 miles from downtown Dallas and 15 miles from downtown Fort Worth, has an approximate 5,000 undergraduate enrollement. The size of the university and its proximity to Cleburne was a deciding factor for her, she said. Nunley had considered Oklahoma Baptist University but decided against it due to the distance.

"It's so close to home that if I need anything like money for food or other necessities, I can drive home in an hour or so," Nunley said. "Also, I'm just not big on large schools."

The DBU Lady Patriots finished 11th among 22 schools at the cross-country National Championships last year.

Nunley will also run track at DBU. Her track coach, Richard Naylor, said it will be hard to lose Nunley since she is such a great team leader.

"Danielle has done the best leadership job with young runners that any senior has ever done," Naylor said. "Her ability to lead the team and how she conducts herself off the track is amazing."