By Pete Borello

They didn’t make it to the National Junior Olympics - few first-year runners do - but four Los Altos residents certainly impressed their coach during the club track and field season.

Willie Young, coach of the Palo Alto Lightning, had nothing but praise for new team members Alec Nickolls, Amanda Fox, Adrian Bjorn Berg and Jasmine Sofia Berg.

“They did a great job,” the former Los Altos High track coach said.

Nickolls, competing in the Boys Youth Division (ages 12-13), finished fifth in both the 1,500- and 800-meter runs at the Pacific Association Junior Olympics meet. Held June 28-30 at James Logan High in Union City, the event drew more than 80 club teams.

Nickolls’ efforts earned him a trip to the regional meet, which took place July 12-14 at James Logan. There, the seventh-grader placed ninth in the 1,500 and 15th in the 800.

“Alec did very, very well,” Young said.

Fox, a Girls Bantam Division (age 8-10) runner, placed 10th in her heat at the Pacific Association meet.

“That’s very good for a first-year athlete,” Young said. “She’s a very gutsy girl.”

Due to a previously scheduled vacation, fourth-grader Adrian Bjorn Berg and his sister Jasmine Sofia, a sixth-grader, weren’t able to compete in the Pacific Association meet. However, both runners “have great potential” according to Young.

The Lightning’s cross-country season is slated to begin Sept. 8. For more information about the club team, call Young at 323-7632.