Photo by Jake Olson: Fairmont's Ellie Perkins (left) and Jase Meade (right) warm-up during Monday's practice at Bob Bonk Track and Field.

FAIRMONT – Two Fairmont High School Track and Field athletes will be hitting the national stage later this week.

Current Cardinal pole vault record holders Ellie Perkins and Jase Meade will cap off their outstanding spring season at this weekend’s Nike Outdoor Nationals held at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The competition spans from Thursday, June 18, to Monday, June 22.

“It’s been a season that’s been so memorable for so many reasons,” Fairmont pole vault coach Crystal Hanson said. “For them to break the school record, go to the state meet, both bring state medals home and then get to do this together on the national stage. It’s hard to put into words how cool this is.”

Both individuals did enough during this past spring to meet the Provisional Qualifying Standards for the Emerging Elite Athletes.

Perkins secured the mark after her personal best height of 11-07 at this year’s Fairmont Sentinel Relays, knowing she’d be in this competition for some time. However, Meade’s acceptance happened as recently as last Monday.

While his peak performance of 14-01 at the Trojan Relays was a few inches shy of the standard, Hanson said his proximity to the qualification and the current number of entries vaulted him into the competition.

“The automatic qualifier is the best in the country; it’s like the top half percent of all pole vaulters,” Hanson said. “In the emerging elite, where Ellie and Jase were accepted into, tends to be the top one and a half or two percent. So, still quite an honor to be accepted into that.”

Meade will be the first of the two to compete. The Boys Pole Vault Emerging Elite competition begins on Friday, starting at 10:00 a.m. Saturday’s Girls Pole Vault Emerging Elite talent pool is set for 9:00 a.m.