National track meet is sweet deal for local boy

Brandon Pollard ran his way to one of America's showcase track meets this summer.

His victories at local and regional races qualified him for the annual Hershey Track and Field Championships held in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, July 30 through August 2.

The journey underlines Brandon's desire to do his best and continually improve, considering the local meet was held in Bend on the same day as the middle school district meet in late May, forcing Pollard to hurry from one competition to the next. So after competing in four events at the scholastic meet, his parents hustled him to Bend High School, where he arrived just in time to register for the Hershey meet.

Despite fatigue from competing in the 800, 400, 400 relay and long jump at the district meet, coupled with the pain from a very sore in-grown toenail on his right foot, Pollard raced to victory in the 800 meters, automatically qualifying for the state Hershey meet set for July 11 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

If Pollard needed any extra motivation, he got it by stepping onto the historic University of Oregon track where legendary Oregon runner, Steve Prefontaine, once raced.

"I hope to attend the University of Oregon myself, so it was really exciting to run there," he said.

That excitement translated into yet another victory and personal record of 2:29 in the 800, despite being the youngest runner in the 13- to 14-year-old age group. However, Pollard had to wait a week for the results of runners from the rest of the region, which includes Idaho, Washington, Montana, Alaska and the four western-most Canadian provinces. Pollard's dream came true when the local director called in mid-July to let him know he had earned an all-expense-paid trip to Pennsylvania and would be representing Oregon and the Western region in the national meet.

Pollard's parents, Shannon and Don, were able to book a flight on the same plane with Brandon, allowing them to experience much of the adventure alongside their son. The Hershey organizers provide an incredibly positive, healthy experience for all the young people at the meet, according to the Pollards.

"We were very impressed with the way they supported all the kids and gave the message to do their best," said Shannon Pollard.

Admitted chocoholics, Brandon and his mother thoroughly enjoyed being on the Hershey campus. The athletes got to take a tour of the facility, which is no longer open to the general public, and the company produced a special-label chocolate bar for all the contestants. Brandon also purchased a five-pound bar, big enough to satisfy any chocolate lover.

One highlight for Brandon was the chance to meet former Olympic champions Carl Lewis (long jump and 100 meters) and Rafer Johnson (decathlon). The day before the meet, Pollard got the opportunity to size up his competition, and it became clear to him that he would be racing against some very fine athletes, all of whom were older than he.

"It was a little intimidating, and I was nervous," he admitted.

All the same, he pulled himself together to produce yet another personal best on his way to placing tenth, in 2:27. The winner ran a blazing 2:06. "My middle school coach, Kris Kristovich, called me beforehand and told me he believed I would run 2:27, which really helped," he said.

With medals and memorabilia displayed throughout his room at his home in Sage Meadow as reminders of the Hershey experience, Brandon has his sights on a return trip next year.

"I want to keep improving and doing my best," he said.