Moniteau County residents Nicki Frank, 13, and Corynn Frank, 14, etched their names in Junior Track & Field history.
The sisters both qualified for the AAU National Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships held July 29 through Aug. 5 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
The girls took interest in track and field over the summer after being influenced by their father, Josh, a track and field coach at St. Martin Catholic School. It wasn't long before the girls began participating in the sport. With Nikki excelling at the pentathlon, a track and field event consisting of five separate events - high jump, long jump, shot put, 100-meter hurdles and 800-meter run.
"I just thought it would be fun to do what my parents did and I liked distance running. So I decided to go to middle distance running," Nikki said.
"I started off with the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and the long jump," Corynn said.
To qualify for the Junior Olympics, the Franks needed to finish in the top six in their respective events at both their regional and district track meets. In the case of Nikki's pentathlon event, she needed to finish in the top three to qualify for the Junior Olympics. Both meets were held in Hillsboro, Missouri. Their father said the girls competed against some of the best junior athletes from Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas.
Corynn finished fourth place in the 14-year-old 400-meter dash and the long jump at regionals to qualify for the Junior Olympics. While Nikki won the 13-year-old high jump and pentathlon at regionals. Nikki also qualified for the long jump, the 200-meter hurdles and the 400-meter dash.
"It's pretty amazing just to qualify for something like that and then to see them competing and beating some of the best in the nation. (It) really made them proud and made me proud and their mother proud, of course," Josh said.
Corynn was unable to compete in the National Junior Olympics due to a scheduling conflict with California High School volleyball.
Nikki was able to compete in Des Moines and finished eighth place in the nation in the pentathlon. She earned a medal and All-American honors for finishing in the top eight of contestants.
"I was very excited and I didn't really think I was going to make it, but then I persevered. I was very surprised to make the All-American team," Nikki said.
High School head coaches Eric Stout, of California, and Phil Pitts, of Helias Catholic, have jokingly asked the girls if they're ready to join their teams already.
The girls will be able to compete for the National Junior Olympics until they reach 18 years old. The Frank sisters said they want to continue working on their athleticism so they can continue to return to the competition throughout the next few years as well as preparing themselves for high school track and field.