After astonishing West Michigan high school running fans in
her freshman year at Hopkins High School, Laura Velderman hasn’t slowed down at all for the summer.
The Lady Viking track and cross-country star won two more medals Saturday at the USA track and field regional Junior Olympics meet at Olivet College. She finished first in her age group in the 800-meter run and was fourth in the open 400, earning her a spot in the Junior Olympics regional meet.
The O-K Silver Conference champion in cross-country as a freshman who finished ninth in the state Division 3 meet, Velderman also was a state qualifier in relays and the 400 for the regional champion Lady Vikings this past spring.
She will begin the defense of her league cross-country individual title this fall as a Hopkins sophomore and her teammates have their eyes on a league championship, regional title and who knows what at Michigan International Speedway near Brooklyn in November.
