Jaclyn Anderson Sets Bar High for Career in Pre-Med

Jaclyn Anderson is a quick study. Having never high jumped before coming to Knox, this Morton, Illinois, native ended her Prairie Fire career as a four-time All-Midwest Conference performer and set the Knox record in outdoor high jump.

Her outdoor high jump record of 5'3 ¼" capped a varsity athletic career in which she developed into Knox's top outdoor high jumper as a senior, and was voted Prairie Fire Player of the Week for her performance in the 2009 Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Meet. She graduates in June 2009 with a degree in biology.

Following the 2006-07 season, she received the Arvid P. Zetterberg, Jr. Prize for Women. The prize was established in 1976 by the parents of Arvid Zetterberg to honor their son who lost his life in World War II. It is awarded to the student-athlete who, during her first year, exemplified the highest qualities of character, scholarship, and interest in sports. After her 2007-08 season, Anderson received the K-Club Award for Women which was established in 1965 by the K-Club, an organization comprised of student-athletes who received "K" letters during their Knox careers. It is awarded to the student-athlete who maintained an outstanding academic record during her sophomore year, lettered in two sports, and is selected by the Athletics Department Staff as contributing most significantly to the athletics program.

Anderson is not only a high jumper. She also competes in the 4 x 200 meter and 4 x 400 meter relays, the long jump, and triple jump in both indoor and outdoor track and field and throws the javelin in outdoor track and field. When it isn't track and field season, Anderson still reaches for the stars as a member of the Prairie Fire volleyball team.

She came to Knox specifically to play volleyball, and it was during the off season of her first year that a fellow athlete coaxed her to join the track and field team.

She recalls that during her very first meet that first year she didn't clear the bar at the opening height. But with the help of the coaching staff, she medaled at the 2006 Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a second place jump of 4'10 ¼".

Jump Ahead Four Years
Since that first meet, Anderson has broken the school record and set a new personal best with a jump of 5'3" "and some change," she adds. "It has been a long road with the high jump. I almost quit, and then I broke the school record this year."

Anderson also placed seventh in conference with a javelin throw of 97'10". "Coach Zierfuss helped with my form."

This year, with a nudge from track coaches Dan Zierfuss and Patrick Irwin, Anderson jumped at the chance to try the high jump again. "Being on the volleyball team, I was more focused on volleyball my whole college career." But with her last college volleyball season behind her, Anderson speculated that if she buckled down she could accomplish a lot more. "I was able to get back to that first year mentality and just have fun with it .. just enjoy it."

Her hard work over the past four years showed as she jumped 5' 3 ¾" at the 2009 Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field meet, breaking the school record and taking third in the Conference.

She finished her senior year third with a bang. Besides taking third in the conference and breaking the school record in high jump, Anderson medaled in long jump and triple jump at the Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Meet. She took third in the long jump with a jump of 17'0" and competed, for the first time, in the triple jump, finishing third at the conference outdoor meet with a jump of 35' 3 ¾", which was leaps and bounds above her personal best by more than a foot.

"I'm surprised. I really had a great senior year."

Anderson's five major athletics awards include three more awards that were presented after her senior season:

• The Evelyn Bielefeldt Award, established in 1976 in memory of "Miss B", who was an instructor and coach at Knox for 37 years, is awarded to the senior female with the most outstanding career in intercollegiate athletics.
• The Moller Cup Award, established in 1975 by classmates of Glenn Moller who lost his life in Vietnam in 1969, is awarded to the student-athlete who achieved the highest scholastic average while earning two letters during her junior year.
• The Harley Knosher Female Athlete of the Year Award was established in 1977 in honor of Harley Knosher, for his many contributions to the Knox community during his 40 years (1960-2000) of service as a faculty member, coach, and director of athletics. It is awarded to the outstanding female athlete of the year as selected by the Athletics Department.

High Aspirations
Like her athletic career, Anderson has aspirations for her career in biology. Her focus on medicine is no lofty goal. "I fell in love with science in high school biology class. That is when I decided to do the pre med route."

She selected Knox because of a noted pre med program that has a strong rate of acceptance for applicants to medical school.  Knox is also close to home. "But not too close," she adds. "It also has good financial aid and really good opportunities for senior research in biology. I wanted to do something more."

Anderson also was looking for a program where she could be play sports. "But, I didn't want a program that would take over my life. Other schools are more intense and demanding in their student/athletes lives. I knew Knox would give me a change to do things outside athletics. I didn't want to just be a student/athlete... or a jock."

As she stands ready to launch herself out into the world, Anderson sees herself as more of a leader than she was four years ago. "I'm more confident. I have an inner strength. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. It is nice to know I contributed to the sports program and helped it grow. But I want to do other things. I want to get students interested in science. That is important."