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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Jeremy Rushing, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Jan. 20, 2014 - As both a national championship qualifier and Academic All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) recipient, North Central College women's track and field athlete Jocelyn Redlinski has done nothing but excel as both a student and athlete.  
 
Jocelyn credits her busy, structured schedule for her success in the classroom. "A lot of it is just staying on top of your homework and don't procrastinate," she says.  "I've strived to have good time management my entire athletic career."
 
The senior's busy schedule goes well beyond class, homework, and practice.  She is the president of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and a tutor in the EDGE structured study program.  Jocelyn thoroughly enjoys her position as FCA president and has spent a lot of time climbing her way to that position.
 
"I started going a couple years ago and really listened and enjoyed it," she explains.  "Last year, I was treasurer and former president Josh Winder was graduating. We had a talk and he thought I would be a good leader."
 
As president of FCA, the entrepreneurship major has many responsibilities.  Two of the biggest are getting the word out about the club and when they meet as well as putting together good lessons for North Central student-athletes.
 
"We all go through the same struggles - hard practices, tough losses, great wins," she says.  "It can be challenging to keep your faith through all of that."
 
Although her job as FCA president is to teach and have a positive impact on others, Jocelyn is quick to point out the positive impact being a part of FCA has had on nearly every aspect of her own life both on and off the track.
 
"I think it's helped exponentially with my confidence," said Jocelyn.  "I was injured in the fall and FCA helped me accept it and have faith that I would get through it."
 
The Orchard Park, N.Y.  native has obviously traveled a long way to come to school at North Central.  Jocelyn admits it was her bloodlines that made the College stand out from the rest while she was choosing which school she wanted to attend.
 
"My grandpa came here, my mom and her two brothers came here, my uncle met my aunt here, so there's a lot of Cardinals in the family," said Jocelyn.  "On another college visit, my mom wanted to show me her alma mater on the way to the other school.  When I came here, I loved it and I walked away pretty much knowing I was going to come here."
 
On the track, Jocelyn competes as a multi-event athlete, taking part in the pentathlon during the indoor season and the heptathlon during the outdoor season. She has known for quite a while that such events would be her specialty.
 
"New York is one of the few states that has the pentathlon for high school," she explains.  "I medaled in state my senior year so I came in knowing I was going to be a multi-eventer."
 
Last season, Jocelyn capped off an impressive indoor season by qualifying for nationals.  Her qualification definitely didn't lack in suspense, as she qualified for nationals at the very last meet before the championships.
 
"We didn't have a last chance meet for multi so it was really nerve-wracking because I was just sitting there watching the stats and hoping," she recalls.  "I ended up being the last one in and I was immediately shocked that I made it."
 
Jocelyn's outdoor season was capped off with a trip to nationals as well, again qualifying at her last possible chance to do so. 
 
After speaking with Jocelyn, it's obvious her success in the pentathlon and heptathlon stems from her love for the events, particularly the variety inherent in both.
 
"It's nice that it gives me the opportunity to keep doing everything that I love," said Jocelyn.  "It doesn't make me pick or specify."
 
Redlinski and the rest of the 12th-ranked Cardinals will open the 2014 indoor season on Friday, hosting the Cardinal Opener at Al B. Carius Track. Field events are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., with running events starting at 5:00.