While many high school students are spending their summers getting ready to return to school Trevor Sinard was out competing.
Sinard, an outstanding track and field star at Stone Memorial High School, spent his time off battling some of the best prep shot put and discus competitors in the country.
Sinard capped his summer tour with two top-10 finishes at the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, NC. He finished eighth in the shot put and seventh in the discus.
“I got information about the junior olympics from a college coach about a week before a qualifying meet,” Sinard said. “I ended up getting first in the shot and the discus at that meet. So, I then went to the next qualifying meet and finished second. That moved me on to the junior olympics.
“My expectations were pretty low for the national junior olympics. I was just looking to get in there, get a personal record, then get out of there.”
Sinard started the day in fine fashion by highlighting the shot put with a toss of 51 feet, 3 3/4 inches, far further than he expected.
“The distance was a little bit of a shock,” Sinard said. “I was hoping in the low 50s. I was not expecting to PR by that kind of distance. That was insane.”
Sinard said he had been practicing a lot leading up to the meet, highlighting his footwork.
“I was taking my back leg too far back in the circle and was trying to cut it in,” Sinard said. “Instead, I swung my back leg all the way around and got some centrifugal force. It made my spin so much smoother and faster.”
Sinard’s first throw in the shot put was 49-6. His best distance came on his second throw. He’s been throwing 50 feet on a regular basis since the competition.
The discus competition went even better for Sinard. His personal record during the regular season was 154 feet. At the junior olympics, Sinard finished seventh with a toss of 163 feet.
“I was seeded in the 20s going into the meet and threw 156 feet in qualification,” Sinard said. “So, I went into the Greensboro meet just looking to have fun. I was going to get up there and just let it fly.”
His first throw of the competition was 163 feet.
“I just went to the junior olympics trying to see if I could get a PR in each event. I would be happy with that,” Sinard said. “Instead, getting two medals and two all-American titles, that means something to me. It makes me want to come out and do even better next season.”