Corpus Christi eighth grader Jack Keathley-Helms, left, tries to find an extra gear during the second lap of the 13-14-year-old 800-meter prelims at the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics on Wednesday at Rock Chalk Park. Keathley-Helms placed 11th with a time of 2:07.69.

Leading up to the girls 800-meter run at the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics on Wednesday, Lawrence High junior Evann Seratte had to prepare in a different way than usual.

Seratte, competing in the 15-16 year old division, wanted to do her best to ignore the pace set by other competitors. She knew she was going to face top competition and wanted to stay within her own limits.

In the prelims at Rock Chalk Park, Seratte took 23rd in 2:26.34 and Baldwin High junior Natalie Beiter followed in 25th in 2:26.64.

“It was definitely different than going to high school meets,” Seratte said. “I was glad I was familiar with the track but it’s definitely a whole different level.”

Running through the rain, after an hour-long weather delay, Seratte ran a 1:05.14 split on the first lap, one of the fastest in the entire field.

“I was just trying to tell myself to compete to the level that I know I could compete at and not try to worry about the competition,” said Seratte, who will run in the 400 on Friday.

Beiter competed this week with the Kansas Flyers Track Club, but actually trained herself throughout the summer.

“I’ve been running since I was 6 years old, on and off with different coaches and different teams,” Beiter said. “This year, I coached myself. I’ve never done that before, no experience. But I liked it. It was nice.”

A bonus of competing near home was the chance to have family and friends cheering in the crowd.

“It really helps having all those people around me supporting me and helping me,” said Beiter, who ran in the 4×800 relay on Tuesday. “It’s amazing.”

Baldwin High junior Natalie Beiter runs down the backstretch in the 15-16-year-old division 800-meter prelims at the USATF National Junior Olympics on Wednesday at Rock Chalk Park.

Lawrence eighth grader runs in 800

After crossing the finish line in the 13-14 year old boys’ 800-meter run Wednesday, Jack Keathley-Helms wished he would’ve pushed just a little bit more.

Keathley-Helms, entering the eighth grade at Corpus Christi, placed 11th in prelims with a time of 2:07.69. He was fourth in his heat and missed out on a spot in the finals, the top eight times, by 0.97 seconds.

“I do feel like I could’ve gone a little harder,” said Keathley-Helms, who will run in the 1,500 and 400 over the next two days.

It was his first time competing at Rock Chalk Park, but he said he wasn’t nervous when he stepped up to the starting line.

“I was nervous at the heating tent,” Keathley-Helms said, “but my mom always says, ‘Concentrate on your breathing, it helps the nerves.'”

Stewart competes in shot put

Competing in her second event of the Junior Olympics, Lawrence High sophomore Ella Stewart placed 39th in the girls shot put among 15-16 year olds.

Stewart, who transferred from Shawnee Heights and plans to play basketball at LHS, had a best throw of 30 feet, 3.75 inches. She was 30th in the hammer throw Monday.

She will compete in the discus Friday.

Ochocinco arrives in Lawrence

In the past few days, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson (formerly Chad Ochocinco) has has traded lighthearted barbs with members of the Kansas football team.

On Twitter, Johnson wrote that he wants to face players in the soccer video game FIFA 17, then run routes against the team’s defensive backs.

“Let’s light ’em up Ocho,” KU quarterback Peyton Bender responded on Twitter.

Johnson watched his daughter, Cha’iel, in the 11-12 year old division of the 800-meter run Wednesday. Cha’iel Johnson posted the top time in prelims (2:21.25).