National competitor

While other kids floated on the river or lounged at the water park this summer, Latecia Howell was concerned with hotter endeavors. As temperatures hovered near 100 degrees, the 13-year-old Lakeland Junior High student focused on the position of her feet and the aim onto her mark for the Northwest regional long jump track and field event. Her concentration paid off, and Latecia became the only Idaho competitor at the 40th National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championship in Baltimore in July.

Many of today’s Olympic stars began their careers at this competition, which includes athletes between the ages of 8 and 18. Although Latecia entered three other track events in the Northwest regionals, it was her third-place win in the long jump that earned her a trip East.

Ironically, Latecia had the least experience in that event. During the school year she avoided the long jump because it was generally dominated by droves of girls who didn’t want to run. Once the school track season ended, Latecia’s father, Larry, looked for ways to keep his daughter running. He was impressed by her speed on the basketball court and by her performance in state level competitions for field and track put on by Hershey’s chocolate company each year. His online search revealed the Spokane Mercury Athletic Club, so he asked Latecia if she’d like to continue running throughout the summer.

“Our goal was just to try it out, to grab an experience that not many kids get,” he said.

Dad provided the driving to Spokane, and Latecia responded by devoting about 12 hours per week to sweltering practices. She broke several track records for the club in her age group and for the first time concentrated on the challenge of the long jump.

“At first I struggled with just keeping my legs in the air, and then I struggled with stepping on the line,” she said. “Your form has to be perfect.”

Jumping soon became her favorite event.

“When you’re in the air, you just feel like you’re flying,” she said.

Latecia has also competed in Hoopfest, where her team came in second last year, and participates in her school’s cross country, basketball and track teams. Along with sports, she enjoys playing the fiddle, reading and writing. She helps on her grandfather’s farm by driving a combine and tractor and is learning to change irrigation pipes. Her future goals include continuing with track as a means of financing college and becoming an editor some day.

In the center of a 14,000-seat stadium with 6,000 culturally diverse athletes, Latecia found the national competition to be stressful but fun. Considering her nerves, she was pleased with her results amid the top 44 jumpers in the nation. She placed 27th with a jump of 15 feet and 5 inches, which was five inches short of her best jump in the regional competition.

Latecia hopes to return for next year’s nationals, which are scheduled to be in Los Angeles. To prepare, she’ll keep in mind the extra incentive of visits to Universal Studios and Disneyland. Her family made a vacation out of this year’s competition and included the sights of Washington, D.C., in their first East Coast trip. Latecia’s most memorable sights were the Korean War Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. She admired the dedication and discipline seen with the changing of the guards, which are the attributes she relies on for her own success.

Latecia’s finds that the mental discipline required in track keeps her focused and optimistic. She believes that running in the heat backwards, if the coach says to do so, is like eating spinach. You may not like it at the time, but it’s good for you, she said.

“Those things can make you stronger,” she said.