For freshman Avianna Trinidad, standing on the medal podium with a silver medal around her neck and coming in second place felt pretty good.

When elite pole vaulter Colleen Clancy takes the gold, second place doesn’t taste so bitter.

Trinidad, who is friends with Clancy’s sister Clarissa, advanced to the region tournament this week after vaulting 11 feet 6 inches April 20 at Judson High School

“I wanna be like her [Colleen Clancy] when I’m a senior and jumping what she jumps,” Trinidad said. “It’s really nice jumping with her because we’re friends. We get to share the whole experience, and it’s really nice.”

Clancy knows how competitive Trinidad is day in and day out.

“She’s a very hard worker that doesn’t like to be beat, she’s a great teammate” said senior standout Clancy.

Trinidad vaulted her personal best of 12 feet 2 inches March 18 at the Smithson Valley Spring Break Invitational.

“I prepare like any track meet, which is drinking water, eating right, and sleeping well and stretching and rolling and icing, making sure you’re ready.”

Avianna Trinidad will compete at the Region IV track and field meet which takes place Friday and Saturday at Alamo Stadium.