Seniors commit to continuing track careers in college

On Wednesday February 5, two senior athletes signed their national letters of intent to continue their athletic journeys at the collegiate level. Senior Rachel Jeffries will be competing in track for Youngstown University in Youngstown, Ohio, and senior Jill Vogler will be competing with the track team at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Rachel Jeffries

Rachel Jeffries will be continuing her track career at Youngstown University. Jeffries has been competing in track since she was in seventh grade, and her usual events include high jump, 100 meter hurdles, 4×200 meter relay, and 4×400 meter relay.

Jeffries has competed for the McNick Track Team for three seasons and is looking forward to her senior season starting this spring. “I have had great teammates, coaches, and supporters who I have been able to lean on throughout my years,” Jeffries said.

During her freshman year, she broke the high jump record with a jump of 5’03,” which she broke her junior year with a jump of 5’05”. It was during her junior year that she also earned the GCL High Jump Champion, the Region 8 Regional High Jump Champion, and placed 11^th in High Jump at the State Meet.

She will continue to compete in high jump and other events in college. Jeffries is looking forward to the new competition and improving her skill in the next four years at Youngstown.

Jill Vogler

Jill Vogler will be continuing her athletic career by competing in track for Butler University. Vogler first started track her freshman year, and she competes in the 400 meter, 200 meter, 4×200 meter relay, and the 4×400 meter relay.

After having competed in track for McNick for three years, Vogler is excited to start her fourth season this spring. Vogler has a particularly close bond with head coach Cat Lest. “I would say Mrs. Lest has probably made the biggest impact on my athletic journey. She taught me everything she knows about being successful in track and taught me the love for the sport,” Vogler said.

In addition to being captain in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, she was also the MVP Runner those seasons. She was the District Champion in the 400 meter and finished sixth in the 400 meter at the State meet in her sophomore year, and in her junior season, she was the District Runner-up in the 400 meter and a Regional Qualifier in three events. Vogler is hopeful to compete in the same events in college, but knows it may change. She will most likely be running the 400 meter and the 4×400 meter relay. “I am looking forward to meeting my new teammates and going into a new family; really just starting a new journey and continuing to do what I love,” Vogler said.