STAPLES, Minn. (KWAD) — Staples-Motley High School standout runner Audrey Brownell has announced her commitment to continue her academic and athletic career at Tulsa University, where she will compete for the Golden Hurricane women’s cross country and track & field teams.

Brownell, one of the state’s top distance runners, has been a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ success throughout her high school career. Known for her consistency, work ethic, and leadership, she has won six State titles in Cross Country and Track, as well as earned numerous all-conference and all-State honors while helping Staples-Motley remain among Minnesota’s premier small-school running programs.

Tulsa University, an NCAA Division I program competing in the American Athletic Conference, has a nationally respected distance running tradition—producing multiple All-Americans and NCAA Championship qualifiers in recent years.

Brownell has won five individual State running championships: two in the 1600m, one in the 800m, one in the 4x800m relay, and one 5K cross country championship, and one state team title with the Cross Country team in 2021. With Audrey on the team, SM Cross Country has placed first, second, third, fifth and seventh at State, and likely would have had another top finish in 2020 if the fall tournament season hadn’t been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.