Watauga High senior Darby Middlebrook has made a verbal commitment to attend the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, Mich., and a member of the Big Ten Conference, next season to run track and cross country. Middlebrook, a three-sport athlete at WHS in track, cross country and swimming, is recovering from a broken leg she suffered at the Class 4A Western Regional in Charlotte last fall.
She is currently swimming, but has not competed in any running events concerning the indoor track season. Middlebrook won the Class 4A state cross country championship as a sophomore in 2010, and she finished second her junior year in 2011. Middlebrook was a two-time regional champion and a three-time Northwestern 3A/4A Conference champion in cross country.
She won the indoor state championship in the 1,600-meter run last season, and she also set a new state record by completing that race in 5:01. Middlebrook will also join her older sister, Haley, who is currently a freshman at Michigan.

Photo Courtesy: Darby Middlebrook, Sheila Kelly