Jenna Spanswick became a star athlete for Lake Bluff Middle School before she ever attended a class. 

Spanswick, who competes in the 200-meter dash in the Junior Olympics starting Tuesday in Houston, moved to Lake Bluff with her family in June but she has been away a bit qualifying for the event. 

Participating in sprints and the long jump, Spanswick was the District champion in the 200 meter dash with a 27.73  clocking and finished second in the 100 (13.35) and long jump (13-1) June 23 in Waukesha, WI. 

A week later she improved her performance in two of the three events during the final qualifying event in Normal to earn a trip to the Junior Olympics. She logged a personal best 26.93 with a fourth place in the 200. She also placed sixth in the long jump (13-4) and the 100 (13.63). The 200 is her only event in Houston. 

“"I felt so proud of myself that I qualified to go to Houston for the Junior Olympics,” Spanswick said. Summer for Spanswick is a time to compete in AAU sanctioned track and field events.

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