JEFFERSON TWP — They needed no motivational speaker.

Their reasons for competing are as simple as wanting to improve and to stay in shape.

That's the attitude five South Butler Flyer Track and Field Club athletes used to get to the Region II Championships.

Jenna Plutyk (80-meter hurdles, high jump), Dylan Plutyk (high jump), Joe Hutchinson (100 hurdles), Austin Hannes (80-meter hurdles) and Nick Bartoszewicz (triple jump) all qualified for that event, which will be held this weekend in Jamestown, N.Y., by placing in the top four at the Three Rivers Association Championships at California (Pa.) University June 20.

The Plutyks are siblings who live in Saxonburg. Jenna, 11, will be a seventh-grader at Knoch Middle School in the fall and Dylan, 10, will be in fifth grade.

Hutchinson is a freshman at Knoch, Hannes is a fifth-grader in the same school district and Bartoszewicz is a junior at Central Catholic who lives in Wexford.

"All these kids are self-motivated," said Flyers coach Dave Douthett. "They deserve a lot of credit."

The top 3 finishers in each age bracket at the Jamestown event will move on to the National Championships in North Carolina July 28 to Aug. 2.

A teachers strike in the South Butler School District that kept classes in session until June 22 threw a monkey wrench into the plans of some club members.

The Flyers' season began in early May, though high school athletes didn't report to the squad until after their varsity teams' seasons had finished.

"Usually, by mid-season, the kids are out of school and can put more practice time in. That wasn't the case this year," said Douthett. "It was a tremendous effort, considering the short practice sessions they had."

The upcoming event in New York will be divided into five age brackets, beginning with ages 9 and 10 and ending with ages 17 and 18.

For Hutchinson, it's all about staying ahead of the pack.

"I want to get ahead of a lot of other athletes," said Hutchinson. "I just want to stay active. I've been doing well in the Three Rivers events, but this next competition, I don't know what to think about what it's going to be like."

Shedding pounds and building muscle can help athletes in every sport, including Hannes, a Penn Township resident.

"I want to go to nationals," he said. "But I'm also doing it to stay in shape for football."

Jenna Plutyk has her sights set on a memorable weekend.

"The hurdles is my best event, but I want to set a personal best in both events," she said.

At least in the Plutyk family, it appears as though sister knows best.

"It sounded like fun and my sister was joining," Dylan said of his reasons for becoming a South Butler Flyer. "But I didn't think I'd make the (regional) meet."

Bartoszewicz won't be competing in Jamestown because of a previously planned family vacation.

What is his motivation for still showing up to practice every day at Knoch High's track?

"I still want to get better," said Bartoszewicz, whose career best in the triple jump is 38 feet, 9 inches. "I've never been to the WPIAL Championships before and I want to get there next year."

Douthett, who is assisted by Ralph Lemmon and Tony Sanks, knows his athletes will give it their best. That's why he feels no need to put extra pressure on them before such a big meet.

"We just want all of them to get a (personal record) in their events and have a good time," he said. "That's what this is all about."