KAREN HATCHETT PAVLIN
Updated: Apr 30
Lawrence High School -- Jumps, Sprints, Hurdles
The induction of both Hatchett sisters into the Mercer County Track and Field Hall of Fame simultaneously is no coincidence. Who can gauge who was the better of the two sisters on the track? That is a subject best left for friendly family reunions.
Karen Hatchett Pavlin makes her resounding case for this honor by being one of the most decorated performers in Mercer County track history: 12 major track titles, including three county, four sectional, four state Group II and finally a Meet of Champions crown.
Karen was thus not a performer who had one big day or just one big season; her excellence helped define an era. But one of her greatest weekends was when she took home two state titles in Group II, in the high jump (5-6) and 110 low hurdles (14.6), helping the Cardinals roll to the first spring track girls’ team title in county history.
More great days were to come. In the 1970’s Hopewell Valley’s Hilary Noden was the first Mercer girl to win at the outdoor Meet of Champions, taking three different distance races. Karen Hatchett became the second, kicking off the 1980’s with her high jump title.
On the collegiate level at the University of Virginia, Karen was part of an indoor national championship team in '81, and multiple ACC team championships. She was twice a college All-American. She won a national indoor championship on the Cavaliers distance medley relay in 1982, and joined her sister Kim in a runner-up finish at the same meet in the 4x400.
After Virginia, Karen studied at Dartmouth and Cornell. She is the current Chief Workforce Innovation Officer at ServiceNow in New York City.
MAJOR TITLES
NJ Meet of Champions Winner - High Jump (1980)
4x State Group II Champion - 110 Hurdles (1979 & '80), High Jump (1979 & '80)
4x CJ Sectional Champion - 110 Hurdles (1979 & '80), High Jump (1979 & '80)
3x Mercer County Champion - 110 Hurdles (1980), High Jump (1978 & '80)
