Jenna Vaughn
Casey County
What was your most memorable meet and why?
My most memorable meet is The Great American Cross Country Festival this year. As a team we had so much fun traveling to North Carolina, going to the beach, racing, and getting our faces painted and glitter tattoos.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
My biggest competition was probably at the Footlocker South meet in North Carolina because so many talented, hardworking girls from all classes and several states get to race each other.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most and why?
Getting fourth place at the 2A state meet in 2015 stands out the most because we were not expecting it at all and we got to hold a trophy at the state meet!
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would stress less. I was worried about how I would do in so many meets and I did not really get the chance to enjoy so many races.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
My anxiety often becomes something that blocks me, and my airways. After collapsing twice in track we found out that I have vocal cord dysfunction. It just means that if my anxiety acts up my vocal cords close and I can't breathe enough. I have had to get through several practices and races just trying to control my breathing but I have found several things to help.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss running and racing with my little sister. She is 4 years in school behind me but I was able to race with her for the past two years because she ran up to high school from middle school.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Enjoy running! Don't make it into so much of a task. Run with passion and determination but don't focus so much on times. The times will go down when you are ready but you can get burned out in the process of worrying all of the time.
What are your post-high school or plans?
My plans are to run at the collegiate level and major in biology with a pre-med emphasis.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to say thank you to my grandfather who always gives me running advice, my other grandfather who makes me special "PR tags", my mother who always supports me and helps keep me healthy, and most of all my father. My father is my coach and has always helped push me to do my best. He has been my coach my entire life, even when I was not running yet, and will continue to be my coach in my heart as I move on to college and on from that. Thank you <3
