NP’s Fulton signs with William Jewell

DEARBORN, Mo. — McKenna Fulton admits she didn’t really like running but listened to some advice as a freshman.

Now, four years later the North Platte senior signed to continue her cross country and track and field career at William Jewell College in Liberty.

She signed her scholarship in front of teammates and friends on Wednesday, April 11, at the North Platte High School library.

“McKenna the model we have for students athlete,” North Platte coach Brendan Cary said. “She is in NHS (National Honor Society), a student in extracurricular activities and holds a job and balances all of that and she does it very well.” 

She is what Cary called an ‘Iron Panther’ for doing four sports in high school – softball, cross country, basketball and track and field. 

She owns the school record in the 5K and was part of a state-medal winning 4x400 team. 

“Jewell has picked up a gem,” Cary of the Division II school adding Fulton.
Graceland and Park had interest in Fulton, but she said wanted to compete at a higher level and Jewell offered that. 

“My coach said you have a chance to be a four-time state qualifier (in cross country) if I go out,” Fulton recalls. “I didn’t do it in junior high because I was scared. It was just by chance it happened.”

Fulton noted she initially thought her future would lead her into playing college softball, but she realized her potential to excel came in running.

As her Twitter bio says, “I just really love to run.”