Donna M. Petrsorich-Hinkes has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for her achievements in cross country and track and field. She is a member of NU's Class of 1989.
While at West Islip High School in the early 1980s, Petrsorich developed into one of the top young runners in the state of New York. She competed in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track for three seasons, advancing to the state finals eight out of a possible nine times. Petrsorich, a captain of all three teams in high school, also has been elected to the West Islip High School Hall of Fame.
Petrsorich quickly became NU's top distance runner and one of the finest runners in the region. She made an immediate impact upon her arrival, placing fourth in the 1500 at the New England Championship as a freshman and setting the NU outdoor record in the event with a time of 4:36.2. Her sophomore year, Petrsorich took it up a notch, placing fourth in the 1500 at the highly competitive ECAC Championship and setting NU indoor records in the mile and 3000.
As a junior in the 1986-87 season, Petrsorich moved up to the longer distance events and had her greatest success. She was elected cross country, indoor and outdoor track captain as a senior standout. Petrsorich was runner-up at the New England Cross Country Championship in both 1986 and '87, which is higher than any other Husky has ever placed. She won back-to-back New England outdoor track titles in the 3000 and remains the only Husky to win a New England title in an event over 800 meters.
In 1987, Petrsorich placed second in the 5000 at the outdoor ECAC Championship in a time of 16:44, the highest finish any NU distance runner has placed at the ECACs and an school record time that still stands. Over her final two seasons, she set the NU indoor 1500 record (4:30.43) and the outdoor records in the 3000 (9:36.75), and 5000 (16:44). All of her records remain today and have seldom even been approached.
Petrsorich graduated with honors from the School of Nursing. She was elected to the Nursing Honor Society and was awarded the Vivian B. Allen Nursing Scholarship.
After graduation, Petrsorich ran competitively for a decade for Nike Boston, the Boston Running Club and Club Northwest. She competed in the national cross country championship six times and received the Phoenix Award while competing for the Boston Running Club. She worked as a newborn ICU nurse for 11 years.
