JEFFERSON TWP - Logan Renwick jumps farther and Brian Tackett runs better than anyone in their age group around here.

This weekend, the pair are joining a few teammates in discovering how they stack up with competitors in their age group from everywhere.

Tackett heads a contingent of six South Butler Flyers while Renwick leads three Butler Stealth Track Club qualifiers for the Junior Olympic National Track Meet in Indianapolis. The meet got under way Wednesday and concludes Sunday.

Tackett was undefeated in the 1,500 meters and 800 meters before finishing second in both events at the Region 2 meet in Allentown.

"I guess I'm not surprised someone beat me out there," Tackett said. "I didn't train very hard. … I didn't train like I should have."

Competing in the boys age 13-to-14 division, Tackett ran the 1,500 in 4 minutes, 29.72 seconds and the 800 in 2:08.07 in Allentown. The latter time beat the South Butler Flyers record that had stood since 1989.

"Brian gets in front early in the race and he stays there," South Butler coach David Douthett said. "Locally, nobody can compete with him.

"He'll have to run his personal-best time to place at nationals. It's a whole different level out there, but then again, that's why you go out there: to challenge yourself."

Joining Tackett at the meet from the Flyers are Nikki Garland and Amy Langnecker in the high jump, Gina Robb and Dylan Beck in the triple jump, Melissa Balsinger in the 100-meter hurdles.

Tackett said he's always liked running and became a distance runner within the past two years because "I saw I wasn't very good as a sprinter.

"I mean, I was OK, but I want to be great - I want to maximize my abilities," he added.

Renwick is doing much the same in the triple jump for the Butler Stealth Track Club. He set the Butler Junior High record in that event as a seventh grader last spring with a leap of 39 feet, 7½ inches.

At the USATF Region 2 championships, Renwick finished first with a season-best jump of 40-7½. This will be his third national track meet in four years.

Renwick placed fourth in hurdles at the AAU Junior Olympic meet at the University of Tennessee in 2002. He placed third in the pentathlon, third in the javelin and fourth in the high jump at youth nationals at the University of Buffalo two years ago.

This weekend marks his first national competition in the triple jump.

"I'll be used to the atmosphere, and that should help me a little bit," Renwick said.

Renwick is seeded No. 1 nationally in the meet. He is ranked fifth nationally for his 13-to-14 age group in the event.

The Butler Stealth Track Club never has had an athlete finish higher than sixth at the national meet. Kevin Doyle (distance running) and Carrie Melis (javelin) have placed nationally in the past for the South Butler Flyers.

"It's tough on the national circuit," Stealth Club coach Jeff Renwick said. "There are so many really talented kids. Just finishing among the top 10 is a major achievement."

A pair of cousins from Grove City, Kristy and Emily Woods, are competing in the shot put and discus this weekend for the Butler Stealth Club.

The South Butler Flyers and Butler Stealth Club are sending more athletes than ever to the national meet.

"We've never sent more than three before," Coach Renwick said of his organization's eight-year existence.

"This is the most we've ever sent," Douthett said. "Ralph Lemmon came on board this year as our jumps coach and four of our national qualifiers are jumpers. That's no coincidence."

The Flyers ended this season with 30 athletes. The Butler Stealth Club had 65.