O'FALLON -- Only a few weeks removed from her high school graduation, Elaine Patten, of O'Fallon, has already proven she is ready for the next stage of her athletic career.
Competing at the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships last week in Eugene, Ore., the 18-year-old Patten finished in a tie for third place in the high jump.
The Stanford University recruit cleared 5-feet, 8-inches, then barely missed on two of three attempts at 5-10 1/2 in her first major national competition.
Patten, who qualified for the meet by clearing 5-8 and placing second at the Class 3A State Track and Field Championships in May, said she was afraid she wouldn't even get the chance to compete after a sometimes tough senior season at O'Fallon.
"I was worried because I had such an up-and-down season. It wasn't very consistent, and so I was worried about not even qualifying. I'm happy that I did, though,'' Patten said. "I went into this meet a little nervous because my (high school) season ended a month ago, and so coach Mac (Richard McCammack) and I have been working on our own.
"About half of the 12 girls competing had already completed their freshman years in college, so placing third and jumping well, I was very pleased at how things went.''
The USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at the same time and site as the U.S. outdoor championships at Haywood Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Among world-class athletes competing were East St. Louis native and reigning 100-meter Olympic champion Dawn Harper and Stephen Pifer, of Edwardsville.
Harper won the 100 hurdles title, while Pifer placed fourth in the 1,500 meters.
"Getting a chance to see the top athletes in the nation, that was really neat,'' Patten said. "Our finals were on Saturday and so I had the whole day on Sunday to sit and watch the finals in the senior division.
"I was excited just to be out there. When I got out there, I was looking around, and I realized that it is really something special and it was an honor just to be out there competing. Haywood Field is just breathtaking, and the people in the city are just so into the sport. They call it Track Town USA, and it's not difficult to see why."
During her competition, Patten cleared the opening height of 5-6, then quickly made 5-8. She then missed at 5-10 1/2, but not without two good attempts.
"The first attempt was really nice. I thought I was over it, and as I was landing, I could see the bar just fall,'' Patten said. "That would have been a personal best for me.''
Patten's best jump is 5-9 1/2 .
Mia Pressley, who will be a sophomore at Auburn University this season, won the event by clearing 5-11 1/2.
Patten said her coaches from Stanford were at the meet and liked what they saw from the incoming freshman.
"They (The Stanford coaches) had seen me on tape, but it was the first time they had seen me jump in person,'' Patten said. "They are trying not to get too involved because they don't know my style, but they seemed pretty excited about getting to work with me, so that's good.''
Patten will continue to train with McCammack until she leaves for Stanford in September.
McCammack is considered one of the premier high jump coaches in the St. Louis area and has worked with former state champions Beth Voellinger and Jamie Tyler.
McCammack believes Patten's best jumps are yet to come.
"For one thing, Elaine is an athlete. You can just look at her and tell that she's a natural athlete,'' McCammack said. "She has a lot of poise. I mean this last experience she had, when she's out there competing at the same site with Olympians and medal winners, you would think that she would be awestruck, but here she is competing and jumping right where she needs to be.''
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