Not so fast.

A few weeks later, after linking up with the Chautauqua Striders program, Swabik was on his way to Durham, North Carolina to compete in the USA Track & Field Youth Outdoor Championships, adding five events to his repertoire for the decathlon.

“I remember my mom said I could ride my dirt bike, but then after (states) she said ‘Well, we have another meet,'” Swabik said Thursday morning. “Then I came here to learn decathlon and the three new events.”

No sweat for the 16-year-old from Sherman, who dominated the small field at Durham County Stadium to the tune of 5,660 points, and in the process qualified for this week’s Hershey National Junior Olympic Championships at Sacramento State University’s Hornet Stadium.

After clearing the bar in the pole vault last week at Strider Field (above), John Swabik confers with Jamestown coach Steve Sipior (next photo). P-J photos by Matt Spielman

“Honestly, I thought that was my last meet,” Swabik said following his final workout at Strider Field before leaving for California. “After I finished that, I found out that was just a qualifier.”

On the first day in Durham, Swabik ran the 100 meters in 11.71 seconds, leaped 5.87 meters in the long jump, threw 10.75 meters in the shot put, cleared 1.80 meters in the high jump and finished the 400 meters in 53.21 seconds. He finished the day with 3,099 points.

On the second day, the soon-to-be junior ran the 110-meter hurdles in 16.24 seconds, and threw the discus 25.42 meters before clearing 3.35 meters in the pole vault, throwing the javelin 33.11 meters and finishing the 1,500 meters in 4:38.06.

“Since my freshman year when I went to states, I just kind of knew I was pentathlon for life,” Swabik said. “I could go to states in high jump, but I’m not going to get first. I could get maybe a podium, third or fourth, but I want to get first and set those records.”

At the end of June, Swabik had only practiced the pole vault three times while the javelin and discus were also new events to him.

Practicing with Jamestown coach Steve Sipior on Thursday morning, Swabik cleared 11 feet in the pole vault, which would be his personal best if reached in competition.

“Pole vault is the most nerve-wracking, just because it’s the most inconsistent for me,” Swabik said. “The hardest thing with the pole vault, learning it so quick, I didn’t get as comfortable with it. I never knew what was going to happen next.”

Personal bests for Swabik heading into competition in Sacramento are:

¯ 11.71 seconds in the 100 meters;

¯ 6.44 meters in the long jump;

¯ 10.75 meters in the shot put;

¯ 1.93 meters in the high jump;

¯ 52.0 seconds in the 400 meters;

¯ 15.73 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles;

¯ 25.48 meters in the discus;

¯ 3.35 meters in the pole vault;

¯ 33.11 meters in the javelin; and

¯ 4:16.23 in the 1,500 meters

“Javelin is a lot different. It’s kind of like throwing a football, honestly,” Swabik said of his second new event, adding “with the discus, as soon as I started spinning I got a lot better. It’s kind of more for my build, too.”

Coming from a high school program that has three districts merged, to a Striders program that pulls coaches and help from all directions, it has taken a village to build up Swabik to the point he is at today.

“I want to thank all the people who have helped me out. There have been a lot of people and the whole community,” he said. ” … Pamela Warner, Ray Shrout, Paul Smardz, Grace Odell, Bill Schneider, and Les Utegg from Corry, Pennsylvania, who coaches the javelin,”

John’s mother Michelle, added, “It’s not just John’s accomplishment, it’s the whole community’s accomplishment that everybody can be excited about.”

If Swabik were to reach all of his personal bests this week, he would finish Day 1 with 3,389 points and the entire competition with 6,153 points.

“I’d like to go for 6,000 points, which is very doable. I’ve definitely trained more,” he said. “It wouldn’t be so much the increases, but at Durham I underperformed in every single event.”

At last year’s Junior Olympic National Championships at North Carolina A&T University’s Irwin Belk Stadium, Arthur Katahdin won the 15-16 Boys Division of the decathlon with 6,060 points while everybody clearing 5,000 points finished in the top-8 for All-American status.

“I would definitely say track is where it’s at for me,” Swabik said. “I would like to go to a Division I school to run track and eventually get on the Olympic team and all that.”

NOTES: Competition will begin Monday at 10 a.m. with the 100 meters followed by the long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters. … On Day 2, the 15-16 boys will begin at 8 a.m. with the 110-meter hurdles followed by the discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500 meters.