Rolfe (Athlete) 1991
Sara grew up with four brothers on a poultry farm near Rolfe. She was introduced to running at an early age when she and her brothers set sawhorses around the chicken house and practiced running at night as a means of recreation. The fact that Rolfe did not have a a track did not stop her. She practiced on a one mile grass oval in the center of the golf course that was formerly a horse and buggy racing site. Using the resources available Sara had an outstanding high school career during the middle 1960’s. Cross Country State Champion – 1967 Track & Fiels State Champion at 400 meters – 1968 State Indoor Championship Team – Rolfe 1967 State Outdoor Championship Team – Rolfe 1967 Placed in twelve State Championship Events during High School Iowa’s All-Time Leaders List – 400 meters – 55.2 800 meters – 2:11.2 200 meters – 24.5 5th place at the 1968 800 meters Olympic Trials – 2:11.3 6th place at the 1968 800 meters National AAU Championships Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame – 1976 Sara attended the University of Iowa and graduated before Title IX was in effect, therefore she was unable to compete at the college level. She did not let that stop her love for the sport of Track & Field. She became the Track & Field and Cross country Coach at Iowa City West High School. She coached the Boy’s Cross Country Team two Mississippi Valley conference and one State Title in 1988. IATC 3A Boys Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year – 1987 IATC 3A Boys State Cross Country Coach of the Year – 1988 The first woman in Iowa to coach a boy’s team to a state championship in any sport. Mississippi Valley Conference Cross country Coach of the Year – 1988 & 1989