It didn't hurt that there was a roster spot awaiting her on the University of Missouri track and cross country teams. Kowalik sealed her future when she signed a letter of intent Sunday morning to become a future Tiger and Division I athlete. "If it would have been D-III, that wouldn't have mattered," she said. Kowalik knew where she wanted to attend college once she visited Columbia. Before that, her other main interest was Missouri State University in Springfield. "I wanted to stay close," she said. "Maybe my parents can come and watch the meets sometimes. When we walked through the facilities for all the sports stuff, oh my gosh, I was like, 'I'm going here.' " "I want her to go and enjoy her next step," Wright City track/cross country coach Sue Wright said. "I want running to help her out. It's great and awesome that she has the opportunity to go and run." Kowalik will be joining former high school teammate Larry Paul at Mizzou. Paul, a 2006 Wright City graduate, is currently a sophomore long-distance runner for the Tigers. Wright City Coach Sue Wright said Kowalik and Paul had similar work ethics. "They both had talent and they both worked very hard," Wright noted. "You don't have the opportunity to coach kids like that. The key is, any kid that goes on and runs in the future, that is awesome for you as a coach." Kowalik has certainly left a mark at Wright City. She was a four-time state medalist in cross country, placing a career-best third last fall. In track, she has claimed six medals, though she was shut out a year ago when a hip injury caused her to pull up lame in the 3,200-meter run. After a visit to the hospital, she didn't return for the finals of the 1,600 and 300 hurdles the following day. Taking it slow this spring to stay healthy, Kowalik is ready for her final appearance in the postseason. At districts Saturday, she won all three of her events in dominating fashion. Rarely has she been challenged until getting to state. But that will change once she hits the Columbia campus. There she will be pushed harder in practice, an exciting possibility to continue her development over the next four years. "We will all have to adjust and get to working to what they want," Kowalik said. "It's very nerve-wracking. I am very nervous because it's going to be a long haul. But I'm ready to work with it." Wright added: "I don't think she's tapped into what she's capable of doing." Kowalik, who plans on majoring in pre-law and wants to be a lawyer, can't wait to begin her college career. "I am very excited about running all year round," she said. "It's going to be fun. Being with a team, it's going to be even more fun."