GROVES TO MAKE HER SECOND TRIP TO AAU NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPICS

Loren Groves is much more relaxed for her second trip to the AAU National Junior Olympics track & field meet.

A year ago, Groves placed in the top seven in four events. The 15-year-old, who will be a sophomore at Scott City High School, has again qualified in four events for the prestigious event that will be held Saturday through Aug. 5 in Virginia Beach, Va.

"I'm not as nervous as I was last year, because I know what to expect," said Groves. "I'm hoping to do real well. I'm just going to try and do my best."

Groves has already done quite well during her young athletic career. Last summer, she finished fourth in the discus, fifth in the pentathlon, sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and seventh in the 400-meter hurdles at the national meet.

Then as a freshman at Scott City High School, she was one of the area's top basketball players before earning three all-state honors in track as she placed second in the 100 hurdles, second in the discus and fifth in the 300 hurdles at the Class 2A state meet.

Groves qualified in the heptathlon, discus, javelin and 400 hurdles for this year's national competition. She put in plenty of hard work, but it's more like fun to her.

"I try to train every day. I usually do event work in the morning, I run in the evening and I lift two days a week," she said. "I love doing it."