EUGENE, Ore. — Sequim High School graduate and pole vaulter Mirek Skov, who finished second at the state 2A track and field championships, came in fourth this weekend at the prestigious Nike Outdoor Championships held in Eugene, Ore.
Skov vaulted 13 feet, 6½ inches, coming in fourth in the “emerging elite” category. He beat out 35 other top track and field athletes from as far away as Texas and Arkansas.
Skov vaulted 14-0 at the state championships in late May. His top vault of his senior season was 14-7 to win the District 2/3 championship. He took first at six meets this season and vaulted 13-6 or higher seven times.
The winner at the Nike Nationals was Louis Goldman of Redondo Beach, Calif., with a vault of 14-0½.
Two other local athletes competed at the Nike Nationals. Clare Turella of Sequim finished tied for 10th in the emerging elite girls high jump with a leap of 4-10½. The winner was Adara Gey van Pittius of Namibia with a leap of 5-4½.
Clarissa Sprague of Port Angeles finished 17th in the emerging elite girls hammer throw with a throw of 101-10. The winner was Madison Speer of Oregon City, Ore., with a throw of 140-2.
Last year, the Sequim girls 4×400 relay team (Hi’ilei Robinson, Kaitlyn Bloomenrader, Eve Mavy and Riley Pyeatt) took first at the Nike Nationals after winning the 2A state championship.