CHAMPLAIN — Mallory Honan was counting on one day playing soccer in college.

The speedy Northeastern Clinton Central School senior standout certainly had the resume — five years on the girls’ varsity team, including being a Champlain Valley Athletic Conference All-Star Second Team selection her sophomore season, First Team as a junior and Player of the Year honors as a senior.

But after she broke several Section VII records in track and field, including four in the recently-completed indoor season, another door opened for Honan, who was quick to seize the opportunity.

Friday morning at Northeastern Clinton, Honan signed her National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Vermont on a track and field scholarship.

“My No. 1 sport was soccer, but then track and field became No. 1 for me,” she said. “I used to run track to stay in shape for soccer.

“But then colleges like Vermont, New Hampshire and North Dakota State were interested in me for track and field. I talked to the coaches at Vermont, and going there was my No. 1 choice after they offered me a scholarship.”

Vermont won out for her services as Honan will be accepting a $30,000 athletic scholarship and a $10,000 academic scholarship. In college, Honan will be studying Animal Science, with the concentration of Pre-Vet for her undergraduate studies.

“It’s exciting to be going to a Division I school, and it’s great to be going there for free,” she said.

“Mallory is a great role model for all the student-athletes in the district,” Northeastern Clinton Athletic Director Josh Harrica said. “She’s a great example on why education through athletics is so important.

“She works hard in the classroom, as well as being a credit to coach.”

Honan has competed on the Northeastern Clinton outdoor track and field team since seventh grade. Northeastern Clinton does not have an indoor team, however, and she ran with Seton Catholic this past season for the first time.

“When Mallory was younger, she didn’t fully understand it,” said Northeastern Clinton’s Ann Lynch, who coaches the outdoor team along with Nick Trombley. “But then she went to states and saw where she could go from there.

“She had just the one season of indoor, and Kathy Champagne is a great coach at Seton Catholic. Mallory came into the season in shape and did very well. She competed in some high-level meets. She’s very coachable, works hard and studies her sport. She’s a student of her events.”

Among Honan’s accomplishments are Section VII indoor records in the 55-meter hurdles, 60-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump. She also holds the Section VII outdoor record in the long jump.

Honan was also the Class B leader in both the 55 hurdles and 60 hurdles at the state meet this past season, with the larger and smaller schools being combined for each event.

During the 2012 outdoor season, Honan was the Section VII champion in the long jump, triple jump and 100 hurdles. During the 2012-13 indoor season, she won the 55 hurdles, 55 dash and long jump.

Honan placed 14th in the triple jump and 17th in the 60 hurdles at the New Balance Nationals.

Honan doesn’t know what events she will be competing in at Vermont.

“The 55 hurdles has been my favorite, and I’ve discussed with the Vermont coaches about competing in the heptathlon,” she said. “Even though I enjoy the hurdles, I’ll do whatever is best.

“I’m excited about the possibilities.”

Honan also played volleyball her freshman year.

“But then they moved volleyball to the same season as soccer and I had to stop playing,” she said. “I also ski and snowboard.”