COOS BAY — Two young athletes from the Prefontaine Track Club will represent the South Coast at the Junior Olympics National Championship in Sacramento next week.
Jonathan Parks and Trent Summers qualified for Nationals in the pole vault at the Junior Olympics Regional meet in Tacoma, Wash., the weekend of July 4. Parks, 13, placed first in the state and regional competitions, vaulting 12 feet, 6 inches. Summers, 14, placed second in both competitions, vaulting 11 feet.
According to Steve Puckett, pole vaulting coach of the Prefontaine Track Club, Summers is the first incoming freshman from Coos Bay to qualify for nationals in the event.
Summers said the experience was “pretty crazy” and not something he was expecting this year. Parks admitted he did not expect to make it past the district competition. Both athletes said they were excited and nervous about going to the national meet.
