Focus On Track Pays Off Big For Boren
WINONA LAKE – Jo Boren’s decision to focus on being a single-sport athlete has been a good one for all involved.
Her commitment to her craft resulted in a stellar season on the track for the Grace College sophomore.
Boren, who excelled in three sports at Lakeland Christian Academy just down the road from Grace, turned in an outstanding campaign this spring for coach Jeff Raymond’s squad.
“This is the first year that I’ve done just track and that just heightened my motivation for it,” said Boren, who also played basketball at Grace her freshman year. “I had specific goals this year and I worked hard to chase them down.
“I’m just glad to have the opportunity to focus and improve in the sport that I feel I’m the best at. Track has always been the hardest sport for me to motivate myself in and I’ve really worked at that.”
Boren, who played volleyball and basketball and ran track in high school, was a part of five school records this season for the Lancers. She set indoor records in the 400 (1:00.72) and also as a part of the 4 X 200 relay team with junior Erin Jones (a Northridge High School graduate), freshman Katelyn McCullough and sophomore Alicia Hertzler with a time of 1:48.91. Boren then set outdoor marks in the 400 (58.22) and in the 4 X 100 relay with Jones, McCullough and junior Micah Pollard in 49.34 and in 4 X 400 relay with Hertzler, McCullough and Pollard in 4:01.77.
“I’m very competitive and driven and my times improved a lot this year,” Boren said. “I love being part of the relays. I love the camaraderie there and how we push each other.”
Raymond says a full year of training has made a huge difference for Boren.
“The biggest thing with Jo is that she trained in the fall and was more consistent working out hard for this season,” stated Raymond. “She’s a hard worker and that work paid off this season.
“In high school, you could tell she was a very determined runner. She got out for the team late last year after playing basketball and she had a little bit of an injury too.
“This year she got a taste of what she can do. I think the conference meet opened her eyes. It was a breakthrough for her.”
Boren placed fourth in the 400 with a time of 59.23 and fifth in the 200 with a personal-best effort of 25.89 at the Crossroads League Championships in late April. She then clocked in at 58.22 to place fourth in the 400 at the NCCAA Outdoor Nationals on May 3.
“The conference meet was a good one and a breakthrough for me,” confirmed Boren.
Raymond says Boren is a great teammate.
“Jo is a great leader for us,” Raymond remarked. “Her teammates respect her and she does what our coaches ask of her. She is also humble about her success.”
Boren has some lofty goals for next season.
“My big goal is to be an All-American,” said Boren. “I know that I will have to put in as much work or more than I did for this season.”