2017 Saucon grads Rachel Panek and Jess Evans took 1st and 3rd respectively at last year’s Colonial League Track and Field Championships.
It is not uncommon for some Saucon Valley graduates to continue their athletic careers in college after high school. But, it is rather unique to have a former Panther take a conference by storm and dominate at the next level.
A 2017 Saucon Valley High School graduate, Rachel Panek is tearing up the Middle Atlantic Conference field as a representative of the Stevenson University Mustangs. With an enrollment of around 4,000 undergrads, Stevenson is located in Pikesville Maryland which is about a twenty minute drive northwest of Baltimore. There is little doubt that Stevenson University is currently Saucon Proud!
Only a freshman, Panek crushed the competition in the 2018 MAC Track and Field Championships this past weekend. Winning 6 of the 7 Heptathlon events, she set a MAC Championship record score of 4,299 points. Rachel’s efforts led her to be named MAC Rookie of the Year. This is her second Rookie of the Year honor as she was also recognized in February at the 2018 MAC Indoor Championships which was hosted by Lehigh University.
Rachel’s results in the MAC 2018 Women’s Heptathlon:
- 1st Place 100M Hurdles (15.64)
- 2nd Place High Jump (1.54m)
- 1st Place Shot Put (9.42m)
- 1st Place 200M (26.92)
- 1st Place Long Jump (4.99m)
- 1st Place Javelin (27.54m)
- 1st Place 800M (2:31.27)
Rachel Panek, as a senior, holding off Palmerton’s Madison Martines in the 300M hurdles.
Heptathlon aside, Rachel also competed individually in the MAC Championships. She placed second in the 100M hurdles setting a Stevenson a school-record with a time of 15.16 seconds. In addition, she finished sixth in both the 400M hurdles (1:05.88) and the High Jump (1.47m).
Rachel’s other accolades:
- 2018 1st Team All-MAC 4x100M Relay
- 2018 2nd Team All-MAC 100M Hurdles
- 2017 Colonial League Champion 100M Hurdles (15.79)
- 2017 Colonial League Champions 300M Hurdles
Rachel Panek and Jessie Evans were a dynamic-hurdling-duo for the Saucon Valley Panthers.
For all the attention Rachel has earned as an outstanding student-athlete at Stevenson, she is also known in the national spotlight for her relationship with Whitehall grad and former Penn State superstar Saquon Barkley.
Building upon her Saucon Valley roots, this former Panther continues to shine bright!
Congrats Rachel, the Source is still with you!
