Kathy Rogers Yoder, class of 1970, was a national champion in track and field, and all-state selection in basketball during her time at McPherson College.

During her first two years of college, the native of Brooklyn, Iowa, competed for the Topeka Cosmos Track Club, directed by Dr. John Davis, since the college did not have a formal track team. In her first competition for the Cosmos, Rogers posted a time of 60.6 seconds in the 440 yard dash and later that spring ran 59.6 in addition to a 2:14.6 in the half-mile (880 yards). While running as a member of the Cosmos, she was coached by McPherson College men’s coach Art Ray.

As a sophomore, she competed in cross country for the first time. That fall she won the Missouri Valley AAU cross country title and was invited to participate in the national AAU championships. In the winter of 1968, Rogers represented McPherson College at the NAIA indoor championships and placed third in the 440 yard dash with a time of 61.7 seconds. Later that spring she won the 1500 meters, in a time of 5:01.7, and placed fourth in the 800 meters at the National Junior championships, leading the Cosmos Girls Track Club to the national team title.

In the spring of 1969 McPherson College began full intercollegiate competition for women in track and field as part of the Division of Girls and Womens Sports. The DGWS was the first nationally recognized collegiate organization for women’s athletics and the forerunner of the AIAW, and later the women’s divisions of the NAIA and NCAA.

Rogers concluded that spring by finishing second in the 220-yard dash (26.9) and the one-mile run (5:34.1) at the first National Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships sponsored by DGWS, setting school records in both events. She was later named the Missouri Valley’s “Outstanding Female Track Athlete” for 1969.

As a senior, Rogers lowered her school record time in the mile run to 5:22.0, placing fourth at the DGWS nationals. She earlier set school record of 5:02.0 in the 1500 meters that still stands, and a school best of 2:21.7 for 880 yards. Her record time for the 880 yards converts to 2:20.9 for 800 meters. Rogers’ time for the 880 yards is still almost two seconds faster than any other 800 meters run by a woman in school history even though the metric race is approximately six yards shorter.

In basketball, Rogers won four letters at McPherson College. She was the second leading scorer on McPherson College’s 1970 state championship team and was selected to the Kansas All-State squad following the Bulldogs’ 1970 season.

Rogers is currently the Director of Curriculum for the Columbus Community Schools in Columbus Junction, Iowa.