TIFTON — Harley Stephens will be trading in her Tift County blue for the gold of Brenau University.

The Lady Devil cross country runner committed Wednesday to the Gainesville-based school in a ceremony at the high school.

Mike Beeman, who assists with the cross country program, said “As a dad and a coach, it’s exciting for me and Coach (Kristin) McElroy to see Harley go beyond Tift County as an athlete.”

Brenau’s head coach, Heather Estetter was also at the signing.

“We are very blessed to have Harley,” she said.

Stephens had met Estetter and her future teammates on a visit to Brenau.

“All the girls took a liking to her,” said Estetter. “[Stephens] really enjoyed her visit.”

Brenau finished second at two of its six meets in 2016 and was fifth in two others, according to its website.

Estetter announced that besides cross country, Stephens was also receiving a scholarship for track.

“She’s a great all-around kid,” Estetter said. “She has to take care of herself in the classroom and she’s done that.”

Stephens, who has also been a soccer player at TCHS, helped the cross country team finish third at area competition in October. She was eighth at the Winnersville Classic, 11th at the Tift Invitational and 14th at the Lee County Invitational in 2016.

Stephens won Tift County cross country’s Coaches Award in 2015 and was voted Most Improved in soccer in 2016.