Frank Morang – Freeport’s 12-year-old track standout – competed at Junior Olympic Nationals on July 26-31, overcoming multiple obstacles to nevertheless bring pride to his hometown. Despite lacking the usual preparation, and despite temperatures in the triple digits, Morang ultimately finished 36th in the 100, 42nd in the 200 and 20th in the Long Jump.

“I felt excited and happy to be at Nationals,” said Morang. “Most kids do not get to go.”

Morang ran his 200-meter Dash Prelim on Wednesday the 27th. Temperatures in Sacramento that day topped out somewhere between 104 and 107 degrees.

“The heat was a challenge for a New England boy from the cool state of Maine,” said Morang’s mother, Robin Monahan. “Frank was sick from the heat and came in last.”

Morang’s time, 27.37, placed him 42nd; only the top 24 finishers – whose times ranged from 23.34 to 26.27 – advanced to the semis. The slowest overall time was 29.83.

“It was so hot, and the heat affected my overall performance,” said Morang. “I was really sick afterwards from heat exhaustion. I am not used to this kind of heat and other kids are. It took me a half a day to get back to normal.”

“He remained in the recovery tent for a while,” said Monahan. “It was difficult to get him to the car; he couldn’t walk. It was a tough start.”

The competition also proved physically intimidating to Morang.

“It was (also) overwhelming to see a bunch of boys who were five inches taller,” he said.

The following day, Thursday the 28th, Morang competed in the 100 prelims, running 13.24 – a personal best, but still not fast enough to earn him a berth in the semis. The top 24 times, which ranged from 11.87 to 12.98, moved on. The slowest finish overall was 14.27.

“He had a much better race,” said Monahan. “He had a great start off the blocks and came in 5th out of eight.”

“The 100 felt better to me,” said Morang. “I was not nervous and the temperatures felt better. I felt like I could get more focus. I had a good start which helped me achieve a PR on this race. I walked off the track knowing that I did the best I could do.”

Finally, on Saturday the 30th, Morang competed in the Long Jump, where he jumped 15-05.00 – not a personal best, but good enough for 20th in the nation.

Morang doesn’t have a proper trainer, and Freeport itself is without a track for local athletes to train on, but Morang does participate in the Falmouth Rec Department’s summer track program. There, he is coached by Steve Virgilio.

Morang is rightly happy with his accomplishments – never mind any impediments he faced. Asked what he learned about himself from the experience, he pointed to a better understanding of his own fortitude.

“I learned that I rise to the occasion,” he said, “despite disadvantages like kids who are bigger and stronger, kids who train seven days a week, high temperatures and big venues that are scary. I overcame all these and tried my best.”

Freeporter Frank Morang traveled with his mother, Robin Monahan, to the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships in Sacramento, Calif., last week.