Jillian Plotner is having an amazing track season.
The St. Joseph-Ogden junior helped the 3,200 relay team win first place at the Sages Invitational.
On March 9, Plotner clocked a personal record in the 800, on Feb. 22 she and the 3,200 relay team placed first at the Illinois Top Times event, where she also ran a personal record by four seconds in the 1,600.
Plotner success is due to her positive attitude, said head coach Kelly Steffen.
“She is very determined and excited to be injury free and being able to train hard with the rest of the team,” she said. “This mentality has carried into her performances at meets.”
Steffen said Plotner values training input from her coach and teammates.
When Plotner was sick earlier this season, she respected Steffen’s decision to sit her out of certain meets and cut back on some of the training in order to get her back to full health, Steffen said.
Steffen said that Plotner realizes that the time is now for her to take her talent to the next level.
“Although it is very comfortable to be a part of talented relays, Jill is stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing individual events which is something our team will need to be successful.”
Plotner said having coaches and teachers be there for her is her favorite part about being a student-athlete at SJO as well as the closeness she has developed with her teammates.
She said she is proud that Steffen nominated her for athlete of the month.
“I’m pretty proud that people recognize my hard work in and out of the classroom,” Plotner said. “And of course sports too.”
Academic facts:
Plotner plans on studying forensic anthropology in college and her favorite class at SJO is Earth and Life Science.
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