Notre Dame freshman qualifies for upcoming Junior Olympics

Though still 14 years old, Jacob Bendtsen will compete against 15-16 year olds in the track and field games at the AAU Junior Olympics in Ypsilanti.

Notre Dame student Jacob Bendtsen, who will be a freshman when school begins again in August, qualified this past weekend for the AAU Junior Olympics at a regional competition hosted by Detroit Renaissance High School.

With a jump of 18’-11”, Bendtsen, 14, was moved up to the 15-16 year old division in the track and field games, which will be held at Rynearson Stadium on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Bendtsen joins elite athletes such as Jackie Joyner Kersee, Carl Lewis and Greg Louganis who have competed at the Junior Olympics in the past.

For a little over a week — July 29 through Aug. 5 — 16,000 to 18,000 young athletes will compete in more than 15 different sports at six venues throughout the metropolitan Detroit area at the annual AAU Junior Olympics. Competitions in track and field, basketball, cheerleading, swimming and taekwondo are among the games to be held throughout the week.

Last year, the AAU Junior Olympic Games, the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States, were held in the greater Houston area.

With a jump of 18 feet-11 inches, Notre Dame freshman Jacob Bendtsen, 14, was moved up to the 15-16 year old division in the track and field games, which will be held at Rynearson Stadium on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.

Celebrating its 51st annual event this year, the AAU Junior Olympic Games began on Aug. 21, 1967, when U.S. vice president Hubert H. Humphrey proclaimed the start at the Departmental Auditorium on Constitutional Ave. in Washington D.C. The inaugural event drew 523 youth athletes who competed for national championships in swimming and track and field, establishing 18 AAU records during the event.

Since then, the AAU Junior Olympic Games have been conducted in 19 states and 30 cities across the United States. As one of the premier events in the nation, youth athletes have used the event as the starting point to an ultra-successful professional career. Notable AAU Junior Olympic Games alumni include: Jackie Joyner Kersee (track and field), Carl Lewis (track and field), Greg Louganis (diving), Kathy McMillan (track and field), Charles Foster (track and field), Robert Griffin III (track and field), Jordy Nelson (track and field) and Ezekiel Elliott (track and field).

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.