[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ompeting against top competition isn’t a new experience for incoming Lehman High freshman Nikayla Fitzergald.

When she began her track and field career at age 9, Fitzgerald had to prove herself as the only girl on her team. The experience, however, pushed her to improve her skills.

“It pushed me more to go faster and to compete,” Fitzgerald said.

Armed with that experience, Fitzgerald eyes a chance to hit the podium this summer as she qualified for the 2017 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics, which will be held July 26 to Aug. 5 in Detroit, Michigan. It marks the second straight year Fitzgerald has qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics.

Incoming freshman Nikayla Fitzgerald lands into the sand pit during an attempt in the long jump. (courtesy photo)

Fitzgerald said competing at the Junior Olympics is a fun experience. She said it provides athletes a barometer of their skills. It also allows athletes to recognize which skills they need to improve.

This summer, Fitzgerald will run in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, while also competing in the long jump.

Helping Fitzgerald reach the Junior Olympics is Olympian Charles Austin, who she’s trained with on a regular basis. Austin won the gold medal in the men’s high jump at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, GA.

Under Austin, Fitzgerald began to run faster and place in more events, aided by tough workouts that are fun and challenging at the same time, she said. Fitzgerald trains approximately four days per week, while training with Austin twice a week. During the winter months, Fitzgerald participates in basketball, which also helps with her conditioning.

“It’s fun and challenging, you learn so much when you’re around (an Olympian),” Fitzgerald said. “You want to take it all in.”

A life in athletics is a family trait for Fitzgerald, who is a triplet. One of Fitzgerald’s sisters is a cheerleader, while the other is a dancer.

They got their athletic genes from their parents, who were also athletes in their youth.

Kim Fitzgerald, Nikayla’s mother, ran track and also played baseball and volleyball in high school. While Kim said she was active in her youth, she marvels at her daughter, who showed her athletic abilities at an early age.

“Her determination is stronger than I have ever seen,” Kim Fitzgerald said. “It sometimes surprises me.”

As she enters high school, Nikayla opted to remain in track and now eyes success at the high school level. Nikayla said she understands the rigors high school track will offer and the heightened level of competition.

Setting a new personal record in her events, while also potentially going to state are her short-term goals.

But Nikayla also eyes the chance to one day run at the University of Texas at Austin, and potentially reach the Olympics, which is the biggest stage in the world for track and field athletes.

Nikayla said she looks up to Olympian Sonya Richards-Ross, a Texas alumna, who she said is “inspiring” and has competed in many of the same events as Nikayla.

“She went to the University of Texas (at Austin) and broke records and she’s just inspiring,” Nikayla said.