Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Without even realizing it was happening Jaylen Votroubek got hooked on track and field at a young age.

Votroubek didn’t start competing in an organized track program until fifth grade and admits she wasn’t super serious about the sport until high school.

It was long before Votroubek ever stepped on a track in a West Branch uniform that she learned to love the sport.

“My sisters are thirteen and sixteen years older than me and they ran track throughout high school, I was pretty young, but I remember spending a lot of time with my mom at their meets,” Votroubek said. “So, track has always run in our family.”

It was the exposure to the sport at a young age through her family that fostered an interest in running for Votroubek.

A strong work ethic and relentless pursuit to improve paved the way for Votroubek to become one of the top hurdlers in Class 2A.

“She is a very reserved person in a sense but she is definitely the lead by example type,” West Branch coach Ben Holub said. “She’s an extremely hard worker and she brings people along with her work ethic. I don’t think she’d ever call someone out but she will definitely be something that will help make people better. She has been such a great teammate to everyone in her leadership.”

A three-year state qualifier and two-time medalist in both the 400 hurdles and shuttle hurdle relay Votroubek had her sights set on closing her prep career on a high note.

Instead, thanks to COVID-19, Votroubek saw her high school career cut short.

The cancellation of the spring sports season due to concerns of the global pandemic won’t end the track career for Votroubek who plans to run collegiate at Arkansas next fall while she will join the pre-med program.

“I first started looking at Arkansas for their premedical program, but I became interested in the possibility of running track there shortly after,” Votroubek said. “My mom and I met with the head coach during my college visit to discuss my options and I took some time to think about it, but ultimately decided that I wasn’t ready to be done with track quite yet.”

Even without a senior season Votroubek leaves behind an impressive prep legacy at West Branch.

She earned medals in the 400 hurdles as a sophomore and junior placing fifth in Class 2A in 2018 and eighth last season.

“Her baby is the 400 hurdles, she just missed Drake (Relays) last year and she was really coming on strong at the end of the last year,” Holub said. “I know she put in a lot of work in the offseason and she was really, really excited about her senior year going out and being able to finish on top. I know she would have been competing for a championship in that event.”

Along with her success in individual events Holub played a central role in building on the history of shuttle hurdle success at West Branch.

She was a member of the West Branch shuttle hurdle relay team that placed fifth in 2018 and helped the Bears climb to third last season.

“It’s exciting to know that West Branch’s shuttle hurdle relay has always been up there with some of the best relay teams in the state,” Votroubek said. “Even at school with the younger grades, I think they have seen us build that success and it makes them want to be a part of the team no matter if they’re in a different relay or running individual events. They get to be a part of the success that our track program has.”

Votroubek was one of three members from that third-place shuttle hurdle relay team that returned this season looking for state gold.

Knowing she was capable of chasing a pair of state titles as a senior made the cancellation of the spring sports season sting for Votroubek.

However, the toughest thing for the West Branch senior leader was just missing out on the chance to compete.

“One of the things I miss the most about track season is the competition,” Votroubek said. “I have always enjoyed every opportunity I have gotten to compete against and with some really good athletes. They have pushed me beyond my limits to improve my performance in meets and knowing that they have worked just as hard to get to where I am continues to push me.”

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