Notre Dame Academy X-C/track star Lola Dinneen has chosen this Division 1 program

Talk about the best of both worlds.

By recently signing a National Letter of Intent to attend George Washington University on a partial athletic, partial academic scholarship, Notre Dame Academy cross country/track star Lola Dinneen is now living a dream to compete on the Division 1 level.

But by committing to the Washington, DC school, she’ll also be afforded the opportunity to train with sister and former NDA star X-C/track phenom Sierra Dinneen. Sierra, you see, recently finished her junior year at neighboring Georgetown University and the sisters are planning to work out together in DC prior to the fall.

NDA X-C, track star Sierra Dinneen opts to attend Georgetown University

“We’ll be practicing on the same track,’' said 18-year-old Lola. “Knowing that my sister will be there definitely makes me feel more comfortable. We’re going to be in the same town.’'

Lola Dinneen said George Washington’s coaching staff, which includes head coach Terry Weir, first contacted her in the middle of her junior year and she spent the next five months or so finding out what she could about the Atlantic-10 school.

“Then I went for an official visit and I found that I liked the school and its surrounding area‚’’ explained Dinneen. “It’s always been my main goal to compete at the Division 1 level in college and I just fell in love with the team and coaches, who have created a good atmosphere.

“I’m very excited about being committed to George Washington.’'

The Colonels, meanwhile, are likely equally excited about landing Dinneen as she brings a lofty resume in both cross country and track. The classified distance runner primarily competes in the 5K, 2 mile (personal best 10:46), mile (5:02) and half mile (2:19). In cross country, her personal best on the 4K course at Van Cortlandt Park is 15:06.

Dinneen’s most recent accolades include a first-place finish at the CHSAA Intersectional Championship’s 3K race (outdoors). As a junior, she was the Staten Island champion in the 3K and 1,500-meter races (indoors) and she was also the top finisher at the CHSAA Intersectional cross country championships as well.

“(The coaching staff) thinks I can bring strong distance abilities to the team,’' the Annadale resident added. “And they think I can be even better than I am right now. That made me feel really good and made me trust the coaches even more.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started.’'

Dinneen, who was accepted into GWU’s School of Business, is undecided on a major, but is considering Finance.

She also received interest from Virginia Tech and UConn.

Other recent college signings by S.I. student-athletes

Sea’s Julia Arnone (Rugby)

Sea’s Victoria Dziubela (Track & Field)

Tottenville’s Adnan Chokrane (Soccer)

Susan Wagner’s Ava LaMarca (Track & Field)

St. Joseph by-the-Sea’s Giana Scotti (Softball)

St. Joseph Hill’s Juliana Castellano (Soccer)

St. Joseph Hill’s Victoria Terranova (Soccer)

Sea’s Sophia Greaves (Gymnastics)