Jill Lancaster

Jill Lancaster just completed her 7th year at Northwestern. She spent first two years as the Cross-Country coach and her fifth year as the Women's Track & Field coach. Most recently finished 5th in the Great American Conference.

In her first season as the Cross coach, the teams saw significant improvement throughout the fall season and finished the season at the Central Region Meet. Following the season, her teams both made it onto the Academic All-American list as they each maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher for the fall semester.

Lancaster joined the Rangers after serving as a volunteer track and field coach at Cherokee High School. Prior to her volunteer position, Lancaster was the Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field at Division I Troy University over the course of the 2008-2014 seasons.

"Throughout my career the community has supported me in all my endeavors as a student, athlete and coach. The time is right and a good fit to get back to the sport I love. It is a true homecoming for me. Ride, Rangers, Ride.

Prior to her position at Troy, Lancaster was the Co-Head Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach at the University of Oklahoma from the year 1997 to 2005. Her first head coaching position came in 1988 when she held the position of Head Women's Track and Field and Cross- Country coach until 1993 at Toledo University. She also held two other assistant Track and Field or Cross-Country jobs at other major Division I schools including Kansas State and the University of Kansas.

Lancaster has coached several athletes throughout her illustrious Division I career who have advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. During her tenure as Co-Head Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach at the University of Oklahoma she assisted in coaching numerous Division I All-Americans as well as leading the Sooners to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regional, which stood as the highest finish at the event in program history.

In addition to her time as a collegiate coach, Lancaster also brings success to the Rangers at the national level as she coached two Olympic Trial qualifiers in the 100, 200 and long jump competitions. She has also had a hand in developing multiple individuals who have qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

A ground-breaking athlete in the state of Oklahoma herself, Lancaster was a three-time AIAW Division 1-A All-American Selection in the 600-meter dash, mile and two-mile relays. Lancaster still holds the all-time school record for the outdoor 400-meter hurdle with a time of 59.03.

Following her collegiate career for the Sooners, Lancaster placed 14th at the 1988 United States Olympic Trials in the Heptathlon. In 2009 she was named as one of the Top 10 Female Athletes of the Century by the Drake Relays. 1988 was a big year for Lancaster as she was also inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame.

Lancaster also promotes success in the classroom as evidenced by her own academic achievements that include her being the first female track and field scholarship athlete to earn a University of Oklahoma Degree. She was also selected as an AIAW National Convention Student-Athlete Delegate.

Lancaster holds a Level II Track and Field Coaches Certification in endurance as well as a Level II Track and Field Coaches Certification in jumps.

Lancaster currently resides in Alva.