McKenna Arguien, one of the most impressive runners in Churchville-Chili High School history, signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for Iona College’s Division 1 XC/Track and Field on February 8, in a ceremony at the high school. The senior won an athletic and academic scholarship from the college and is looking forward to majoring in secondary education mathematics and continuing her sports career with Iona’s Gael Nation.
Arguien has built an impressive record of accomplishment as a Churchville-Chili Saint. The senior ran varsity cross country, indoor track, and track and field for all four years of high school. In ninth grade, the young runner was honored with the school’s Most Improved Athlete award for all three disciplines. She was repeatedly chosen as MVP on the three teams and was team captain in both grades 11 and 12.
Named to All-Section V for XC in grades 10-12, Arguien was also selected for All-Greater Rochester First Team for XC as a senior and sophomore with honorable mention as a junior. She has participated in the High School National Championships meet for track and field, the NY State meet for XC and indoor track and field, and was the Monroe County Champion for 3,000 meters in indoor track for 2019-20.
Arguien holds personal records of 4:52 for 1,500 meters and 10:40 for 3,000 meters. Varsity XC Coach Paul Glor said, “This year, McKenna placed third at XC Sectionals as an individual, helping her team win the first girls XC Sectional Team Title in 43 years of school history!”
In addition to excelling in sport, Arguien was a NYS scholar athlete (GPA of 90.0 or above) for every quarter in high school and received the Monroe County Young Citizen of the Year Award in 2021. She is a member of National Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society, president of the school’s Leo Club and vice president of Peer Tutoring, and volunteers in her community.
“I chose Iona because I hope to be a math teacher at the secondary level and they have a great program for that,” Arguien said. “Their XC program is also top rated. I’d love to be a coach, as well. I’ve loved working with my coaches: They’ve done so much for me.”
Arguien is the daughter of Tim and Katie Arguien, and the youngest of three sisters – all graduates of Churchville-Chili High School and outstanding athletes in their own right.
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