Following a move we haven't seen since Noah Affolder (Carthage) -- when he committed to Syracuse University as a high school junior -- Karrie Baloga (Cornwall) has done much the same with the University of Colorado.
On Wednesday, the Cornwall junior pledged to the Buffaloes via Instagram.
Baloga is the Gatorade XC Athlete of the Year for NY in 2021, as well as a fourth-place finisher at the recent EastBay Cross Country Championships. She is a two-time state champion indoors at the 3,000m distance.
The Colorado women's program has long been a hot-ticket destination for high school prospects, although many of its recruits fall from within Colorado's borders. However, one of Colorado's most recent success stories is that of Sage Hurta (Hamilton), who went on to capture the NCAA indoor title over the mile distance, among many other accolades.
More recently, running for On Athletics, Hurta broke two minutes for the first time ever in the 800m at the Penn Relays, one year after making the semi-final at the Olympic Trials in the same event.
Karrie Baloga is currently NY and US No. 2 in the steeple, while ranking as NY No. 1 in the 3,000m. Baloga also took three official visits to North Carolina State, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss. She intends to complete her senior year at Cornwall High School.
Read Baloga's full commitment below.