Katie Vogt, Doane University

Welcome back to the Red Banner Race Report podcast, featuring the cross country and track and field stars of the NAIA.  I’m your host, Meran, and today’s guest is Katie Vogt of Doane University.  Katie has established herself as one of the top sprinters in the NAIA, and her recent season highlights include some pretty amazing achievements.  

• School Record Holder: On April 8, 2026, she set a new Doane school record in the 400 meters with a time of 53.32 seconds, which still currently ranks as the fastest time in the NAIA.
• National Honors: She was named the NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week in April 2026 after a dominant week in which she secured multiple wins and met national qualifying standards.
• Versatility: Beyond the 400m, she competes at a high level in the 200m and is a key member of the 4x400m relay team, contributing to several conference and national podium finishes, including the national indoor championship 4x400 m relay in March.

We’ll chat with Katie about her career improvement, her goals for what remains to be done in her senior season, and get to know her as an athlete on and off the track.  "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Thank you so much for tuning into The Red Banner Race Report.  I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the NAIA…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Red Banner Race Report Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play the podcast. 

If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the show notes or reach out on Instagram.

The Red Banner Race Report is an independent production and not officially endorsed or sponsored by the NAIA organization.  Any opinions or views expressed are those of the host and participants and do not reflect the NAIA in its entirety.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello and welcome back to the Red Banner Race Report Podcast, featuring the cross-country and track and field stars of the NAIA. I'm your host, Maren, and today's guest is Katie Vote of Doan University. Katie has established herself as one of the top sprinters in the NAIA, and her recent season highlights include some pretty amazing achievements. On April 8th, she set a new Doan school record in the 400 meters with a time of 53.32 seconds, which still currently ranks as the fastest time in the NAIA. She was named the NAI Women's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week in April 2026, following a dominant week where she secured multiple wins and national qualifying standards. Beyond the 400, she competes at a high level in the 200 meters and is a key member of the 4x4 relay team, contributing to several conference and national podium finishes, including the National Indoor Championship title in the 4x4 in March. We'll chat with Katie about her career improvement, her goals for what remains to be done in her senior season, and get to know her as an athlete both on and off the track. Welcome to the Red Banner Race Report. Katie. Thank you. Yeah. Well, let's start out getting to know a little bit about your background. So tell us, you know, where you originally grew up, maybe your family, and then how you got started in track and field.

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Yeah, so I grew up in Pierce, Nebraska. Um and I did track. I don't know, I was big into track ever since I was in grade school. And my dad actually ran for Downe um back when he went to college. And so uh I think just watching him like relive some of the memories because he would bring us to college track meets pretty f frequently, um, really like just sparked something inside of me. And I ever since I was little wanted to run track for Done. And so that's how I kind of started my track journey. Um, and then in high school, my dad insisted that like the 400 would be my race. Like that's kind of just what he envisioned um for me. And I never broke 60 in high school. I was decent. Um, my four by four and four by eight teams made it to state and placed at state. I don't even remember if I ever placed in the open 400 for high school. Um, but I only competed for two seasons because uh well, sophomore year would have been COVID, so that canceled that season. And then my senior year actually broke my foot at prom. Oh so I didn't I missed out on my senior year of high school track. Um, but then in college, freshman year, I trained with the mid-distance group. Um and I did okay, like it was nothing super great, but then sophomore year or yeah, then sophomore year, um we got a new sprints coach who had been my teammate the previous year. Her name is Annika Pingle, and she was my teammate and captain the year before, and I always looked up to her, and then she became my coach for for the sprint squad, and she has been just such a blessing. I really had a breakthrough season my sophomore year, finally got under 60 seconds in the 400, and every season after that has just been a blessing, like PR after PR.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

So yeah, yeah, that's actually something I wanted to touch on because you have consistently dropped time every season since your freshman year, but even with what you've mentioned, the progression is really quite astounding. So I'm looking at your stats. So 2023, 61, 2024, 55.8, 2025, 54, uh.87, and then 2026, which obviously right now you are ranked first in the NAI, currently 53.32. So you mentioned that you you had a new sprint coach, but man, that is some really serious time drop, especially in a 400, which you know, tenths of a second count. So, what do you think have been the biggest factors or changes in your training or recovery too that really have led to this explosion of speed over the last few years?

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Yeah, I'll definitely be the first to say that it's been like the progression has been just crazy. Um, but as far as like what might have contributed to that, I think just having a great coach, she really like we're never overworked at practice. We have maybe one day a week where it's a harder workout, and I'm like fully spent, but we take our rest days seriously, and she um she encourages us to get good nutrition. We have a nutritionist for our team um for people to go to if they have struggles with eating. Um and I don't know, I just avoid going out and partying on the weekends because that's just something that she Onika did and told us as when she was a competitor, when she was um our captain, she emphasized that a lot. Um, so I've just kind of taken it upon myself too to not go out and party and to kind of take track very seriously that way.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

Mm-hmm. Well, it's paying off, clearly. Yeah, yes. Well, you have a great four by four relay as well, and there's been a lot of time drop in that. So you were the national champions in indoor in March, you won the four by four, and looking at some of the times from when you were a freshman as well, we're looking at like 430, which is not even super fast for a high school team, to 342, which is smoking. So yeah, obviously, some of the training that you've been doing and all those things you mentioned have helped you. Uh, do you feel that it has carried on to your teammates who are part of your four by four as well?

SPEAKER_00 5:53

Absolutely. I've been so grateful for my teammates the last few years. Um, Kylie Haymonic, she's been on the team for three years now. She's a grade below me, but she she um she's a hard worker at practice, and then we got Tanaya as well. She's a uh senior transfer, and she's just such a great leader on the team as well, um, and such a hard worker. And then um Jaden Meyer, our freshman, is just a powerhouse. So they're all just so great, it's such a blessing to have around, and they push me and we push each other out of practice. Um so yeah, I'm super lucky to have them as teammates.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

Well, you shattered the DONE record. That is the new standard 53.32. So take us through that race. I mean, did you realize at some point that you were on pace for something pretty big?

SPEAKER_00 6:47

Yeah, actually, uh breaking the school records has always been my goal, even since freshman year, which which someone might have thought would be like super ambitious, but I always set goals, ambitious goals. Um, and I just feel super fulfilled that I've been able to accomplish that. But yeah, to your point to your question, um I my teammate Tanaya was on the lane on the outside of me for this race that we're talking about, and she was ahead of me um for the first 200 meters. Of course, the stagger makes it look a little different, but anyways, she came out really hard in the first 200 meters, and seeing her on the outside of me, still in front of me with about 150 meters left to go, I was like, okay, I have way much more energy. Like, I have so much more energy to spend here. So I just kicked it in and and kept my knees high, and I flew to that finish. I've never felt so strong in the last 100 meters of a race, so I knew it was gonna be a fast time, but I was still shocked when I saw the the time up on the board.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

So I'm sure, yeah, that was crazy fast. Well, you've had success in the open four, you've had success in the four by four. So how does your mindset change or does it not? How do you approach your race when you're running for yourself individually versus when you're running for a team title?

SPEAKER_00 8:09

Um, individually, I'd say the best mindset for me to have is just like not putting so much pressure on myself. I feel like when I'm putting pressure on myself to get a PR or to do something incredible incredible, uh, I just kind of shatter. So every time I've PR'd, my mindset has been the same. And it's just have fun, like go out there, give it all you've got. There's no there's no one out you're trying to impress but yourself. So just like be loose and and trust your training. Um and it's always worked for me. As far as competing um for a relay team or or at conference for team points, I just love my girls so much and it's it's never anything difficult. I feel like getting on the line for the four by four is so much less pressure than the open, just because I have my girls to carry me through it and the hand the hand the baton off to. Um so I always look forward to that. Yeah, makes it fun to be with your friends.

SPEAKER_01 9:06

Yes. Well, the 400 meters is notoriously painful, especially the last 100, that lactic acid burn. So what works for you when you are trying to be mentally tough and what is going through your head in that final stretch when you feel that wall, so to speak, hit?

SPEAKER_00 9:27

I feel like I haven't felt that yet. Like I def okay, I definitely have felt it a little bit, but it's not near as bad as it used to be. And I think the biggest the biggest reason that that is, is because I've tried to get used to the mindset of like it's gonna hurt, just embrace it. And I think about that even when I'm at practice during hard workout days. I'm like, it's gonna hurt, just embrace it. And so I think that my body, well, like my brain already knows that my body's gonna hurt, so I don't even worry about it. And I just keep my form, I try to shorten my stride a little bit so that my legs are still moving and just finish hard.

SPEAKER_01 10:11

Yeah, well, it's working, clearly. Well, what is your specific recovery protocol? And it doesn't have to be something super technical. Just what do you do between a 400-meter open and then the four by four, which is typically the last event of a meet, to keep your legs fresh for two really hard efforts?

SPEAKER_00 10:31

Yeah, um, if there's not a lot of time between events, which usually there's like an hour or two, I pretty much just catch my breath after the 400, maybe try to get a snack in, um, just some quick carbs and then just jog back and forth on the track mostly. Sometimes I do a little bit of the warm-up with some of my teammates if they haven't warmed up yet. Um but yeah, I just try to stay loose, jog around a little bit, do what feels good, be ready to go. Try to stay out of the sun too, that's important.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Yes, agreed. Well, what are your pr I should say primary goals for outdoor nationals? You've obviously qualified, you have the top seed time right now. I know there's still season left to go and and things change, but it's looking pretty positive for you. So do you have a specific goal that you've set for outdoor nationals that you want to achieve?

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Yeah, definitely national champion in the four in the one in the 400. Sorry. Um, and I think our four by four can do it again too.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Um well, do you have a specific time goal that you've kind of got on your radar, or does that not matter so much as as much as place?

SPEAKER_00 11:47

I don't think I would be upset if I never like PR'd more than what I already have, but I do think under 53 would is something that I'm capable of and something that I would probably need to do if I want to win national. So um yeah, below 53 is kind of what I'm going for. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

Well, we'll shift gears a little bit and take it to a more personal level outside of track. So coming from Nebraska, what is one thing about your state or your hometown that is your favorite?

SPEAKER_00 12:20

Ooh. Probably just that fact that my family's here, all my friends and my family. I I want to stay in Nebraska even after graduation, just because I think it's important to stay close to family. I love the culture here, I love the people. Um so yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Well, you just broke a school record and you're on your way home, and what are you stopping for to eat?

SPEAKER_00 12:49

Ooh. Lately it's been dominoes, but Olive Garden's good too. We've got Drake this weekend, and I already know I'm getting Domino or I'm I already know I'm getting Olive Garden. Okay. How far of a drive is that for you? I think it's like three and a half hours.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Oh, that's not too bad. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:08

Oh, and we're leaving tomorrow and we don't start eating until Friday.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

So Well, that's a pretty elite and competitive meet, so it's gonna be interesting to see what you do. Yeah, that'll be fun.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

I'm super excited.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

Yeah. Well, what is your major and what do you hope to do after you graduate?

SPEAKER_00 13:26

Uh my major is engineering with emphasis in mechanical and civil engineering. And right now I'm just looking for a job in probably manufacturing or some sort of mechanical engineering um in the Carney and Ground Island area. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:43

What are your personal interests or hobbies outside of track and outside of school?

SPEAKER_00 13:48

I spend a lot of time reading. Um which is good because it allows me to just relax. Um sometimes I do puzzles and listen to audiobooks.

unknown 14:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

That's kind of it.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Well, I love to hear that people still read because I'm a huge reader and I feel like that's kind of a lost hobby. Like people just don't read a lot anymore, and it makes me so sad.

SPEAKER_00 14:14

No, I love I love reading. I've probably read five books just this week.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

Yep. Well, I take care of 13,000 books because I am an elementary school librarian. So I love books with a passion. So yeah. Yes. Yep. All right. So this is kind of an interesting question, but I'm curious what your answer will be, especially with an engineering brain. So now that you've officially moved faster than anyone in school history in the 400, what's one thing in life you wish would go slower?

SPEAKER_00 14:43

Oh, um, probably just my college career. It's I'm gonna be super sad when it's all over, but I'm also super blessed to have accomplished what I have. And so I think it'll I think it'll be ending on a good note, um, no matter what happens. But yeah, I would say just like the college years and the high school years.

SPEAKER_01 15:05

Yeah, I agree. I I always tell my kids when they ask, what part of your life would you like to do over? I say the four years of college competing. I yeah. Yeah, it was good times and good memories, and I'll never be that fast again.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Well, do you have a track or field athlete that you would love to see compete in person that you've never been able to watch?

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Oh, Fem Pie Bowl. I really love watching her. She's so sweet, and I just love her smile.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Yeah, she seems like she's got a fierce heart, but a really kind personality. So yeah, yeah, she's she's one of my favorites too. All right, so you're at Drake this weekend. Do you have a conference meet coming up after that? Yes, it'll be the week after. Okay, and then after that, I'm guessing, is the road to nationals?

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Yeah, we have a Twilight meet at Concordia um the week between like between conference and nationals. Um, but then yeah, it'll just be nationals after that.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

All right, well, I'm gonna be there, so it'll be exciting to see what happens. So thanks for yeah, thanks for joining me, and it's been great to chat with you and hear about you and your goals and your life, and I wish you the best for the rest of the season.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Yeah, thank you so much for featuring me.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Thanks so much for tuning in to the Red Banner Race Report. I can't wait to feature more cross-country and track and field athletes from the NAIA. So stay tuned because it just might be you. If you enjoyed today's podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review. You can find the Red Banner Race Report podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players. You can also ask for SmartSpeaker to play the podcast. If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you'd like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the show notes or reach out on Instagram.