Hopkins High School sophomore Laura Velderman placed second n the 800-meter run Saturday at the Junior Olympics regional meet in Ohio to earn a berth in the national meet in a couple of weeks in California.

Velderman also competed in the open 400, but did not make the final four to qualify for the finals in that race. She most often ran the 400 and in relays during the track season for the Lady Vikings.

Velderman also returns for her sophomore season this fall in cross-country. She is the defending O-K Silver Conference champion in the 5,000-meter race and she and the Lady Vikings are defending conference and regional champions. The speedy sophomore also finished ninth in the Division 3 state cross-country finals at Michigan International Speedway near Brooklyn.

She is the daughter of John and Renee Murphy Velderman.