Mitch Cuckovich didn’t win a gold medal, but he did his best and impressed some people in the process.
Cuckovich participated in the 2004 USA Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships held in Eugene, Orgeon July 27 through Aug. 1.
The 10-year-old Oxford resident placed 14th (out of 31 runners) in the 800-meter run and 23rd (out of 38 runner) in the 400-meter run.
‘It was really hard,? Mitch said of the competition, but he feels ‘good? about how he placed.
‘I think he did great,? said mother Lisa Cuckovich. ‘He was running against the best of the best kids in the whole nation.?
Lisa said she met a track coach from Los Angeles who said it was ‘impressive? that Mitch made it to the national competition without being part of a formally ‘structured running team.?
Many of the kids in the Junior Olympics were members of formal teams which, in addition to running, participated in the javelin throw, shot put, discus throw, high-jump and long-jump, Lisa said.
Mitch is a four-year member of the Wildcat Track Club, a summer program sponsored by Oxford Township Parks and Recreation.
Although the club is fun and has been very helpful to Mitch, Lisa said would like to get her son involved in a more detailed program to help nuture and guide his abilities to their fullest potential.
‘The coaches out there said with his natural talent and love for running, we should really try to find something that’s a little more structured,? Lisa said.
While in Orgeon, Mitch and his mom stayed in a dorm room on the University of Oregon campus.
‘It was fun, but it was hot in our room,? Mitch said. ‘We had to buy a fan because it was a record-breaking 100 degrees there.?
‘It was in the 100s and not a cloud in the sky. It was scortching hot,? Lisa said.
When he wasn’t busy competing, Mitch road in a dune buggy and visited a sea lion cave on the Pacific coast.
‘An elevator takes you 200 feet down into a cave where the sea lions come in from the ocean,? Lisa said.
‘It was cool,? Mitch said.