On Thursday, May 28, 2015, Quakertown seniors Karina Bolton and Janae Hickey were recognized at a special news conference for committing to compete in track at the collegiate level. To view photos of the signing, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Karina Bolton – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Cross Country & Track)
Major: Chemical Engineering
Final list of colleges: RPI, Lehigh, RIT
Reasons for choosing RPI: “I really liked how they are very exclusive to engineering and technology - most of their majors focus on science and engineering. I also liked how it was a reasonably small school with around 5,000 people there and I liked the area when I visited. It’s similar to Quakertown, and I could easily see myself going there.”
What was the progression that led you competing in track and cross country at the collegiate level? “I always had it in the back of my mind that after high school ended I wanted to keep going because I really love running, especially cross country. When I saw that RPI was Division 3, I thought this could be a great opportunity for me to still run competitively. That’s kind of what sparked it.”
Cross country coach Ryan Stetler says: “Karina was a fantastic example of what a teammate should be. She was named a captain as a sophomore, which is extremely rare to see, and she embraced that challenge. She was leading some athletes who were a year or two older than her, and they just accepted it because she is such a team player. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body and is just a really fun person to be around, but at the same time, she had a switch that she could turn to go from fun to ultra competitive.
“One of the things that epitomized her work ethic was when she went to Poland. Her family is originally from Poland, and she would travel there for approximately two weeks right in the heart of summer training, which obviously presented a challenge. After her junior year, I know Karina was a little bit disappointed only to be named to honorable mention all-league, and she really, really emphasized her trip to Poland, which is the not the easiest place to run where she was staying. For two weeks, she hit the roads and went there and trained in a really impressive way and was able to continue the positive vibe she had going on. She ended up earning first team all-league as a senior and missed out on states by a mere eight seconds. It was a lot of fun to coach Karina. I know she’ll be successful whatever she sets her mind to. She’s a fantastic runner with a great work ethic but an even better person. I wish nothing but the best for her.”
Track and field coach Jason Anderson says: “Karina has been a leader of my team for all four years that she’s been here. She is going to a poly technical school, and I think the word poly is important for Karina because she is so diverse in her interests. She is a key member of the varsity singers and the play for our music program. She takes many advanced placement classes. She speaks fluent Polish. Karina is able to run the most difficult event in outdoor track, in my opinion, the two mile. She’s done it now for four years, many times by herself against large numbers of opposing players. She always does it with a smile. Her leadership and, more importantly, her empathy and positive attitude have really lifted the outdoor track and field team on numerous occasions. All the young athletes remark on how kind and generous and cooperative Karina is. She’s just been a joy to coach and get to know, and we will miss her significantly here both as a scholar as well as an athlete.”
About Karina:
Favorite food: Peanut Butter
Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect
Favorite music: Katie Perry
Janae Hickey – The Master’s College (Track)
Major: Kinesiology with a focus on Pre-Physical Therapy
Final list of colleges: The Master’s College, UNC Asheville, Grove City, Liberty
Reasons for choosing The Master’s College: “Just talking with the coach – everything he said made me really feel good about the college. Obviously that it’s in California is pretty cool, and it’s Division One. It just felt like a really good fit for me.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in track at the collegiate level? “In my junior year, I really started to get better and knew that if I really worked hard I could get to the next level.”
Track and field coach Jason Anderson says: “Janae is one of the most dominant athletes we’ve had here in Quakertown track. In track, there are 18 events an athlete can run for, and Janae is one of the top people in our record book for four events. We’ve been keeping track records since 1977, and on that list, Janae is fourth in 200, fourth in the 400 as well as fifth in the 800 and fifth and sixth in the 4x400 relay team. She made it to districts last year in the 400, this year in the 200, 400 and 4x4 relay. She just has had such a dominant four seasons here at Quakertown track and field, and she will be sorely missed. Janae is such a positive influence, and the school she has chosen in California is going to really get a quality person, athlete and scholar, and I wish her all the best in the future.”
About Janae:
Favorite food: Cheesecake
Favorite movie: Forrest Gump
Favorite music: Pop
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