Flash back to Jeanette Pettigrew's freshman track season at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.

She was amazed by the fact she had qualified for the state outdoor championship at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, two of the more exciting events of the meet.

Heading into that season, all Pettigrew was thinking about was just getting her feet wet at the varsity level.

Instead, she made a splash.

Pettigrew was the runner-up in the 200 and fin
ished third in the 100. Not bad for fresh-faced 14-year-old going up against 17- and 18-year-olds with experience.

Last year, Pettigrew had another fine season, qualifying for three events at the state meet.

She finished third in the 100, fourth in the 200 and eighth in the long jump, an event she picked up only last year.

''Last season, Jeanette was injured throughout the whole season, so it was just a matter of getting what we could out of her,'' CVCA coach George Hallis said. ''But even with being injured all year, she still ended up placing in three events at the state meet, which is really something.''

Now, as Pettigrew heads into her third varsity season, Hallis said there's so much she wants to accomplish, like adding another event.

''She wants to high jump, but we'll see,'' Hallis said chuckling. ''She played basketball and can jump, but we'll see.''

Hallis said Pettigrew is not taking anything for granted this year and that she understands that if she stays focused and works hard, everything will fall into place for her.

The humility Pettigrew has shown during the first two years of her high school track career has been admirable.

''Each year, there is always going to be competition and you can't hang your hat on what you've done in the past,'' Pettigrew said. ''I just feel blessed and I try to go out and work hard.''

Her demeanor is one of quiet confidence, but when she hits the track, it's an impressive display of fierce competition.

There's no reason to expect anything less of her this season.

''I've always told the both of them (son John is a running back on the CVCA footbll team) that they had a God-given gift and it's their responsibility to use it,'' Joan Pettigrew said of her children.

''Jeanette and her brother (John, a running back for CVCA's football team) are a lot alike,'' Hallis said. ''They are both gifted athletes.

''I actually have to try to get Jeanette to feel like she owns the track when she's on it. I just told her the other day that you can be humble and still have a lot of confidence. But that's not her. She's a humble person.''