Marquardt to join St. Norbert track and field team

Lena graduate made it to state in senior season
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Lena High School graduate Kennedy Marquardt is eager to continue her track and field career at the collegiate level.

A 2021 state track and field qualifier in the 400-meter dash, Marquardt will continue her career at St. Norbert College in De Pere.

“It’s such a cool opportunity, because you are able to compete with the best of the best in every event,” said Marquardt on getting the chance to compete in a collegiate sport. “It’s an experience that not everyone gets to have in their life, so I’m just really thankful.”

Marquardt has had aspirations of competing in college for several years and said colleges first started showing interest in her when she was a sophomore.

Despite not being able to compete as a junior after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the season, Marquardt said that’s when the most collegiate coaches were contacting her about potentially having her join their programs.

“It was a bit overwhelming but amazing at the same time that all these coaches were interested in me,” said the Lena graduate.

Marquardt eventually was able to narrow down landing spots to just five — St. Norbert, Concordia University (Mequon), Concordia University Chicago, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Eau Claire.

St. Norbert eventually won Marquardt over.

“Not only is the campus beautiful, but the classrooms and professors are so outstanding,” said Marquardt. “Those few qualities were something I couldn’t find anywhere else. Lastly, the athletic facilities and coaches were so unique and stood out to me the most out of all the campuses I toured.

“My coaches are extremely knowledgeable and have many resources to help me succeed. They proved to me that there is more to college than just track and field, that I also have to work hard to achieve my career that I am going for. I liked that they want me to choose school over sports, because college sports is a dream, not reality.”

As Marquardt prepares for her college career, she’s excited to focus all of her attention into just one sport. She noted that in high school, she competed in two other sports — basketball and cross-country — while helping manage two sports — volleyball and football.

With the extra attention on track and field, she’s hoping to one day qualify for nationals as a part of a relay team or in an individual event.

“Overall, I am just really excited to compete with such talented individuals on my team,” said Marquardt.

Along with qualifying for state as a senior, she also was the Marinette & Oconto Conference champion in the 400. She qualified for sectionals in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump.

As a sophomore, Marquardt was an M&O champion in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. She made it to sectionals in those four events as well.

Back in her freshman season, Marquardt won a conference title as a part of a 4x100 relay team. She made it to sectionals as a part of that relay team and as an individual in the 200 meters.

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